King Crab
King Crabs are known for their sheer size but only a couple of
species get really big. King crabs are mainly
found in the Southern
Hemisphere where the waters are warmer but the Alaskan king crab is the
obvious exception to this as the waters there are near freezing.
Red king crabs can have a leg span of up to 1.8m, blue king crabs often weigh over 8kg! King crabs hunt small fish
and plankton in the oceans and are often found close to coral reefs or
rocky areas where there are plenty of places for the king crab to hide.
The king crab is generally believed to come from the ancestors of hermit
crabs, as with many species of crab today. King crabs are hunted all
year round by fisherman and the king crab is seen to be delicacy in many
parts of the world.
There are thought to be around 40 different species of king crab today,
nearly all of which are hunted for food by humans due to their large
size and the taste of their flesh. The most popular king crab for a
human catch, is the red king crab as the red king crab is one of the
largest species and one of the most readily available species of king
crab in the ocean.
King Crab Facts
| Kingdom: | Animalia | |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda | |
| Class: | Crustacea | |
| Order: | Decapoda | |
| Family: | Lithodidae | |
| Genus: | Lopholithodes | |
| Scientific Name: | Lopholithodes Mandtii | |
| Type: | Crustacean | |
| Diet: | Carnivore | |
| Size: | 0.6-1.8m (1.9-5.9ft) | |
| Weight: | 2-8kg (4.4-18lbs) | |
| Top Speed: | 11km/h (7mph) | |
| Life Span: | 15-30 years | |
| Lifestyle: | Solitary | |
| Conservation Status: | Threatened | |
| Colour: | Blue, Red, Orange | |
| Skin Type: | Shell | |
| Favourite Food: | Molluscs | |
| Habitat: | Cold coastal waters and continental shelves | |
| Average Litter Size: | 7 | |
| Main Prey: | Molluscs, Fish, Sea Urchin | |
| Predators: | Human, Larger Fish, Octopus | |
| Special Features: | Large body and legs with thick, armoured shell | |
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