King Crabs

King crabs are also known as stone crabs and these occur all around the world. King crabs are generally found in the really cold seas. The King crab belongs to the crab like decapod crustaceans and is also the largest of all the various kinds of crabs that are important commercially. It is also believed that the King crabs have been derived from the hermit crab ancestors and there is evidence about the same, which lies in the asymmetry of the abdomen of the King crab. It is also believed that the reason for the asymmetry is linked to the asymmetry of the hermit crabs, which have to fit inside a spiral shell. There are various species of King crabs that are seen and most of them are consumed for their size and meat.

Species
There are approximately 40 species of the King crabs that are known today. One can see three types of King crabs in Alaska that are used for commercial purposes. These are the Red King crabs, the Blue King crabs and the Golden King crabs.

Paralithodes Camtschaticus (Red King Crab)
The Red King crabs or the Paralithodes camtschaticus have a wide distribution as compared to the other species. One can find these species in the Sea of Japan and towards the North area into the Sea of Okhotsk. The scientific name of the Red King crab is the Paralithodes camtschaticus. Since this crab is sold in large amounts for commercial purposes, it also remains to be the most expensive one as well. This is also due to the fact that the Red King crab is also difficult to catch. The size of the Red king crab being very large, it is also feared at times. Currently, the Red King crab is caught in the Bering Sea and the Norton Sound, Alaska. The Red King crab has a wide carapace that reaches a width of 11 inches and it has a leg span of around 1.8 m.

Paralithodes platypus (Blue King Crab)
The Blue King crab or the Paralithodes platypus is also caught in Alaska. The Blue King crab that is caught especially at the Pribilof Islands is considered to be really the largest of all species of the King crabs. These crabs are brown in color and have highlights that are blue in color. Yet another distinguishing characteristic of the Blue King crab are the really large claws!

Lithodes aequispinus (Golden King Crab)
The Golden King crabs (Lithodes aequispinus) are found from the British Columbia to the Aleutian Islands and even Japan. As compared to the other species, the Golden King crab is comparatively smaller in size. These crabs have a golden-colored shell and are also found in abundance.

Glyptolithodes
The Glyptolithodes is another such species of the King crabs that are found off the Pacific coats of South America. Their distribution can extend northwards as far as Southern California.

Lithodes Couesi (Scarlet King Crab)
These species of King crabs are also known as Scarlet King crab. This crab is relatively smaller in size compared to all the species and its insufficient numbers do not really make it important from the commercial point of view.

Oedignathus (Granular Claw Crab)
The Oedignathus inermis is also known as the granular claw crab. These crabs are generally found off the Pacific coasts of the United States, from California to Alaska, sometimes around the coasts of Japan as well. The characteristic factor of this King crab, which sets it apart from other crabs, is the numerous tubercles that are seen on the flattened chelipeds and leg areas. These species are found under purple colored algae at a depth of about 0 m to 45 m.

Rhinolithodes (Rhinoceros Crab)
The Rhinolithodes wosnessenskii is also known as the Rhinoceros crab or the Golf-ball crab. This species is found at a depth of around 6-73 m. Their carapace is around 7 cm in length, which is triangular in shape. The legs of the Rhinoceros crab are covered with spines and have long setae. Setae refer to the bristle like structures that are seen on the leg area.

Alaskan King crab fishing is considered to be a very dangerous job yet is also very popular with many. The fishing season can be really short which is generally up to four days for the Red King crab. The Alaskan King crabs that are caught for commercial use are the Red King crab, the Blue King crab and the Golden King crab. Recently, there have been strict rules and regulations regarding the overfishing of King crabs to be able to maintain their numbers.