Description:
The longnosed spider crab, Libinia dubia, is also known as the Southern spider crab.  The carapace grows 2 - 4 inches in length, and is globular in shape, with a number of spines and tubercles covering the surface.  The rostrum is extended and has a V-shaped notch at its tip, as can be seen in the photos above.  The long, thin legs may grow 10 - 12 inches in length, and are hooked at the tips to enable crabs to cling onto irregular surfaces.  Chelae are typically equal and elongate, often with white fingers.  Color ranges from light brown or tan through green, though body color is often obscured by bits of sponge or vegetation that the crabs, especially juveniles, decorate themselves with for concealment. 

Habitat:
Longnosed spider crabs inhabit the shallow intertidal and subtidal zones to depths of approximately 400 feet, but prefer quiet waters, protected from heavy wave action.  They are found in a variety of bottom types, but can be especially common in seagrasses.  

Similar Species:
Longnosed spider crabs are similar in appearance to the portly spider crab (also called the common spider crab), Libinia emarginata.  However, the portly spider crab tends to grow somewhat larger, and is gray to yellow-brown in color.  In addition, while the longnosed spider crab has a series of 6 longitudinal bumps along the midline of the carapace, the portly spider crab has 9 of these bumps. 

Range:  
Longnosed spider crabs range from Nova Scotia south through Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to Texas, including the Bahamas and Cuba.