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Japanese porcupine crab looking straight ahead in dark water

Japanese porcupine crab

Paralomis histrix

On view
Into the Deep
Animal type
Invertebrates
Ecosystem
Deep sea
Relatives
King crabs; Family: Lithodidae
Diet
NA
Range
From 660 to 6,600 ft. (200–2,000 m) in the Pacific Ocean
Size
NA

Meet the Japanese porcupine crab

This crab carries its own protection while searching for scraps and small prey along the deep seafloor. Sharp spines cover its strong shell and help keep this diner from becoming dinner.

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