A remarkable event unfolded on the beach showcasing the image of a “mass grave” of spider crabs spread across the coastline, leaving the beachgoers baffled. The images went viral on social media. These spider crabs spread out on the sand in Aberffraw after a severe heatwave in Anglesey, an Island in Wales.
However, the sight of the beach led to an outpouring of worry among beachgoers and residents living nearby. People thought that the recent rise in temperatures may have caused large numbers of crabs to shed their shells at the same time. Nevertheless, the experts claimed that there is nothing to worry about, as these are not dead it is something else which is regarded as quite normal.
Frankie Hoborough, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo claimed that these are spiny spider crab shells and they are not the results of dead crabs. According to Hoborough, spiny spider crabs are considered the largest species of British crab and they are often seen along the seaside. He also claimed that there are many spiny spider crabs found in their exhibit at the Sea Zoo. It is also revealed that their shelled bodies, or carapace, can be around 20 cm in length, while a full-grown male can reach up to 50cm.
It is also reported that crabs, like shrimp and all other shellfish, need to replace their shells to continue growing. Therefore, discovering a crab’s shell does not necessarily mean that it is dead. When such mass moults occur, which are very common in spider crabs, thousands of shells can wash up on beaches at once.
Nevertheless, this is regarded as a negative sign because it shows that there are thousands of spider crabs growing and reproducing. Frankie claimed that when the crabs shed their outer skin, a new soft exoskeleton begins to emerge from a small corner at the bottom of the old exoskeleton.
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