Images of spider crabs amassing along the Cornish coastline in southwest England. As reported by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, these animals "travel from deeper coastal waters to shallower sea areas each summer, following their life cycle: they gather in large numbers in shallow waters and shed their old shells, protecting themselves from potential predators while their new exoskeletons harden". Such gatherings have been rare in British waters until now, but marine experts at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust describe this summer as "exceptionally spectacular" in this respect, as more and more such events are reported. This year, spider crabs have been seen congregating in several coastal areas of Cornwall, including Newquay, St Ives, Falmouth, St Austell Bay and the Lizard Peninsula.

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