Crustacean · king crab

Scarlet king crab

Lithodes couesi

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic A single ocean

Depth

About 380 to 1,125 m, on slopes and seamounts

Size

Carapace often about 9 to 11 cm, long legs

Diet

Small animals and debris from the bottom

Zone

The sea floor · 200 – 3,500 m

Key facts

• King crabs descend from hermit crabs. They left the shell about 13 to 25 million years ago.
• Its red color, large gill chambers and long legs help it live in deep water that is poor in oxygen.
• Its eggs measure about 2.3 mm, twice as large as those of shallow-water king crabs.
• Its thin, light legs spread its weight so it does not sink into the mud.

Verified sources

1. Somerton 1981, Fishery Bulletin (NOAA) : Lithodes couesi in the Gulf of Alaska
2. Cunningham, Blackstone & Buss 1992, Nature : Evolution of king crabs from hermit crab ancestors
3. University of Washington, Interactive Oceans : Scarlet king crab
4. MBARI Deep-Sea Guide : Lithodes couesi

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

Atlantic batfishDibranchus atlanticus Bone-eating zombie wormOsedax rubiplumus Carcass bacterial matsBeggiatoa spp. GrenadierFamily Macrouridae Tripod fishBathypterois grallator Swimming sea cucumberEnypniastes eximia