The Chinese name for it is the horned crab, which belongs to the phylum Arthropoda, class Soft Armor, order Decapoda, family Spider Crab, and genus Zoarcidae in the animal kingdom. It is a marine organism. The head and chest armor of this crab is about 3 centimeters long, with a maximum length of about 4 centimeters and a width of about 2 centimeters. It is slightly triangular or pear shaped, with a prominent raised and segmented surface. The frontal spines are long and closely grow on both sides, and the ends are forked. The surface of the whole body is rough with tumor like particles, including 9 larger ones in the stomach area, 3 in the heart area, and 1 larger one in the intestine area. Except for its claws, its body is covered with bristles and small particles, and is entangled or attached with many algae and sea squirts. Its color changes with the environment, appearing brown or earthy yellow.

Spider crab is a general term for invertebrates in the order Decapoda of the subphylum Crustacea, family Spider Crab.