Clawsome!

Thousands of female spider crabs wash up on Irish beach

- LYNNE KELLEHER

THOUSANDS of female spider crabs have washed up on an Irish beach in a rare natural phenomenon.

The creatures, which are the largest crabs found in our waters, has a leg span of at least 2ft.

It is believed the number of dead females runs to tens of thousands all along the beaches on the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry which would make up a large proportion of the nation’s female spider crab population.

They were wiped out in recent days when they were blown into shore by unseasonal winds while releasing their eggs off the Maharees.

Dr Kevin Flannery from Dingle Oceanworld said it is a phenomenon that has occurred a few times during the centuries.