Sea Toad – Hyas coarctatus

Sea toads, Hyas coarctatus, or Greater Spider Crabs, fascinate me. They seem to love climbing high on the kelp to feed in nutrient rich tidal flows. Gangly legs get them up there without much effort, but in this short film you’ll notice one crab find its limit on a bare rock face.

I found a mating pair – in a strange and unusual mating ritual which looks a little like Tai Chi. It happens face to face, unlike most others crabs where the female is hidden beneath the male.

These clips were filmed at North Strome, Loch Carron in late February 2016. Hope you enjoy!

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Images and words by Andy