Overview
The largest crab in U.S. waters, the king crab are very important commercially; in U.S waters, they are presently taken primarily in the Bering Sea and in Southeast Alaska.
Common Names
Click on the language to view common names.
Common Names in Danish:
Japan-Krabbe, Kamjatka-Krabbe
Common Names in Dutch:
Kamsjatka Krab
Common Names in English:
Alaska Deepsea Crab, Alaska King Crab, Japanese Crab, Kamchatka Crab, King Crab, Red King Crab
Common Names in French:
Crabe Royal Du Kamchatka
Common Names in German:
Kamschatka-Krabbe
Common Names in Italian:
Grancevola Della Camciatca, Granchio Reale
Common Names in Portuguese:
Caranguejo Real, Koningskrab
Description
Physical Description
Species Paralithodes camtschaticus
Adults are large, males 227 mm by 283 mm, reddish brown to purple, covered with spines.
Habitat
Adults prefer sand or mud bottoms , ranging from 3 to 366 m.
Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -3,776 meters (0 to -12,388 feet).Mean = -112.620 meters (-369.488 feet), Standard Deviation = 625.400 based on 189 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.
Biology
Diet
Sea stars, urchins, clams, barnacles, and other benthic invertebrates .
Behavior
The juveniles stay in shallow waters aggregating into huge balls of crab; in Womens Bay these congregations often cling to pilings under a pier . The pods disperse at night, reforming at dawn.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
)
- animals
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
()
- arthropods
- Class:
Malacostraca
()
- Order:
Decapoda
()
- Decapods
- Family:
Paguroidea
()
- Genus:
Paralithodes
()
- Specific name:
camtschaticus
- (Tilesius, 1815)
- Scientific name: - Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815)
- Specific name:
camtschaticus
- (Tilesius, 1815)
- Genus:
Paralithodes
(
- Family:
Paguroidea
(
- Order:
Decapoda
(
- Class:
Malacostraca
(
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Paralithodes camtschatica (Tilesius, 1815)
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 18-Jan-2005
Similar Species
Members of the genus Paralithodes
There are approximately 6 species in this genus:
P. brevipes · P. californiensis (California King Crab) · P. camchaticus · P. camtschaticus (Alaska King Crab) · P. platypus (Blue King Crab) · P. rathbuni
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Notes
Contributors
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center
- Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed October 30, 2006.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 29, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 2 providers.
- MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 18, 2008.
- Ocean Biogeographic Information System. Accessed February 26, 2006. www.iobis.org
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 29, 2008:
- Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Gwaii Haanas Invertebrates (OBIS Canada)
- Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: NODC WOD01 Plankton Database
- Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: North Pacific Groundfish Observer (North Pacific Research Board)
- University of Alaska Museum of the North: University of Alaska Museum of the North Crustacean Collection
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2707079
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-97935
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13795132
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 97935
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 153351
