Donate

Largest crab claw ever found near Taranaki

Publicly released:
New Zealand
Modern-day Southern Giant Crab. By J.J. Wild via Wikimedia Commons.
Modern-day Southern Giant Crab. By J.J. Wild via Wikimedia Commons.

Are ya feeling it now, Mr. Krabs? Researchers from the Netherlands are, after describing a fossil crab that boasts the largest (fossilised) crab claw ever, discovered on Waitoetoe beach in New Zealand by a local fossicker. The new species may be a precursor to today's Southern Giant Crab, which can be found off of Tasmania and usually weighs in over 12 kilos.

Media release

From:

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics
Research:Paper
Organisation/s: Utrecht University, Llorenç de Villalonga
Funder: N/A
Media Contact/s
Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.

Related Stories

8 hours ago

Tiny ants crack the secret to perfect teamwork

Australia; NSW Macquarie University,University of Konstanz, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior... Current Biology
a day ago

Playtime a mostly mutual activity between dolphins and whales

Australia; QLD Griffith University,James Cook University Discover Animals
August 11, 2025

Coral research uncovers exciting new-to-science species hidden in plain sight

Australia; Pacific; NSW; QLD Queensland Museum,University of Technology Sydney (UTS)... Invertebrate Systematics