Spider Crab (Crustacean) : The spider crab is the common name of the crabe maïa (family Majidae – lower order: Brachyura) with a spiny carapace and covered with hairy tubercles living in the sandy seabed and which fishermen go to find up to 50 m in depth. The spider crab is a crustacean arthropod of continental waters, with five pairs of legs. Its long, slender legs are arranged like those of the spider, hence its name. Its very domed carapace is round, almost heart-shaped, 10 to 20 cm wide, with two small points facing forward. It can reach 30-35 cm in length. From pinkish yellow to beige, it takes on the hues of the sand with sometimes chestnut-red reflections. In addition to its color in shades of sand, it camouflages itself by placing small tufts of seaweed on the back.
They are found on the Atlantic coast, particularly in France, Portugal and Morocco. In America, it is the most abundant species that frequents the waters of the Florida coast in winter.
In Japan, its giant sister, called zuwai-gani, has a carapace of more than 40 centimeters and its wingspan can reach 3,50 meters. Very sensitive to water salinity, spider crabs flee the mouths of rivers and feed mainly on sea anemones. marine.
Culinary uses of the spider crab : She tasted cooked in court bouillon, (about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size ), Cold with some mayonnaise. queen of seafood platters, the spider crab is very difficult to dissect. It is served beforehand "broken" or entirely shelled, to chair being then presented in the trunk of his shell.
The preparations of the spider crab are numerous: in asp, riding a jelly, riding a s, riding a cake, riding a farce, riding a frayed, riding a creamy, riding a hurry, riding a yarrow, riding a Soupe, riding a bisque, riding a grout, riding a jus,…
Choose the spider crab
It is necessary to choose preferably the female which has a chair more maintenance. The same is also true for all shellfish. To distinguish the sex of the spider crab, you have to raise the tongue curved which is behind under the shell, it is broad in the female and with eight narrow prolegs, thinner and with only four legs in the male.