enormous Mediterranean crab Taxidermy full body mount - Paromola macrochira - 11 cm - 58 cm - 22 cm - 1

Paromola macrochira is a fascinating deep-water benthic decapod crustacean belonging to the family Homolidae. It lives mainly on deep ocean floors of Japan and the northwest Pacific. It features a sturdy, highly calcified carapace, roughly triangular in shape with rounded margins, which can reach about 20 centimeters in length. The dorsal surface is convex and covered with small spines, spines and protective tubercles. As the scientific name suggests (macrochira = big hands), it has exceptionally long and muscular front limbs, equipped with sharp spines along the outer margins. The ambulatory legs are thin and significantly elongated relative to the body. The body color ranges from dark brown to reddish, often interrupted by pale white or irregular spots on the carapace. One of the most curious biological peculiarities of the genus Paromola resides in the fifth pair of legs (the last pair of hind legs). These are reduced, located in a sub-dorsal position and endowed with a sort of prehensile clamp at the end. Thanks to this anatomy, the crab uses them to grasp and support objects over the rear part of its own carapace. It usually carries sponges, branches of black coral, or gorgonians, actively using them as a shield or as chemical/visual camouflage to defend itself from predators in the dark ocean floors. It is a deep-water species (down to several hundred meters), preferring muddy, sandy bottoms or submerged rocky walls. Geographically, it is widespread in the Pacific, particularly along the coasts of Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
The object in question is missing the claw on the fourth right leg, yet it remains an exceptionally charming specimen in truly BIG dimensions.
Pedestal not included; made from reclaimed/recycled material and used solely for photographic purposes.
A necessary clarification. The final image of our photographic gallery is obtained with the help of AI software. The aim is purely aesthetic but also exemplary: it shows the real object inside an artificially generated scenography. The goal is to show how precious the items in the auction are and how well they sit in different, all the more refined environments.
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