Meet Churchill
Churchill is a Great Spider Crab (Maja brachydactyla), one of Cornwall’s most impressive crustaceans.
I found him sitting amongst the kelp forests of Porthoustock. Spider crabs often decorate themselves with pieces of their surroundings, making them surprisingly difficult to spot despite their size and this guy was huge!
What struck me most about Churchill wasn’t his camouflage or size, but his confidence. He sat calmly and boldly, watching the world pass by from his underwater kingdom. One thing I really like about Spider Crabs is they remind us we are visitors to their home.
It’s easy to overlook creatures like spider crabs when we think about ocean wildlife. Yet they are among the most important engineers of Cornwall’s reefs and kelp forests, helping shape the ecosystems that countless other species depend upon.
Species
Great Spider Crab (Maja brachydactyla)
SeaWild Fact
Every spring and summer, thousands of Great Spider Crabs gather around Cornwall to moult their shells. These spectacular gatherings, known as spider crab aggregations, are among the largest wildlife events in British waters.
Location
Porthoustock, Cornwall, UK
Date Captured
26th March 2026
Photographer
Fish Garner
Collection
Meet the Locals – The SeaWild Art Collection
© Fish Garner / SeaWild.org
Size Guide
Centimeters
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(A3) Large portrait art print |
The art print is 29.7 x 42cm |
(A3) Large landscape art print |
The art print is 42 x 29.7cm |
(A4) Portrait art print |
The art print is 21 x 29.7cm |
(A4) Landscape art print |
The art print is 29.7 x 21cm |
(A5) Small portrait art print |
The art print is 14.8 x 21cm |
(A5) Small landscape art print |
The art print is 21 x 14.8cm |
Product Specification
Large Portrait Art Print - 29.7 x 42 cm (11.6 x 16.5 in) (A3) printed on 300gsm 100% recycled paper.
