Last of the spider crabs - southern Australia

[PhilW]

In the past week or two we have had the huge annual spider crab aggregation in the bay to the south of Melbourne (Australia). Here is what it looked like at its peak: Millions of crabs | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I was a bit late to the party & could only get into the water today. I found that most of the crabs have marched off elsewhere. Still there were a few hundred stragglers: Flickr: watsonphil35's Photostream

These shots were all taken with my E-PL3 + Pana 8mm fisheye.

Phil (W)

 

[TSandM]

My goodness, what do they all live on? I can't imagine, whatever it is, that there's any of it left where they have passed.

 

[PhilW]

The pier has been stripped of its usual weed growth. I imagine it will grow back now they have gone.

 

[Mark Derail]

I've always wondered - much like the huge Coconut Crab - do the locals eat them?

As a person that likes Snow Crabs...free food!

 

[PhilW]

I don't believe they are edible.

 

[Mark Derail]

Just the legs!

Boil them, use scissors.