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Nature

King Crab

What is king crab?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name *Paralithodes camtschaticus*[1]
Family Lithodidae[4]
Order Decapoda[4]
Class Malacostraca[4]
Habitat North Pacific[2]
Commercial use Caught for food[5]

King crab is a large, edible crab, primarily referring to the North Pacific species *Paralithodes camtschaticus*. It is also used to describe the horseshoe crab in some dictionaries.

Context

King crabs are marine decapod crustaceans in the family Lithodidae. They are commonly found in the North Pacific and are commercially harvested for food. The name king crab is also used for the horseshoe crab in some dictionaries [2].

Documented claims

  • King crab is described as a large, edible crab. [3]
  • Large numbers of king crabs are commercially fished each year. [5]
  • King crabs are found chiefly in deep waters and are adapted to cold environments. [4]
  • The name king crab is also used for the horseshoe crab. [2]

Related

Hermit CrabBoth are types of crabs that readers may want to compare.Dungeness CrabBoth are edible crab species commonly discussed in seafood contexts.Coconut CrabBoth are large, notable crab species with distinct habitats.

Questions and answers

Is there king crab in Canada?

King crabs are primarily found in the North Pacific, not in Canadian waters.

What does king crab taste like?

King crab is known for its sweet and tender meat, often compared to a mix of shrimp and lobster [5].

Sources

  1. King crab | Alaskan, Red & Blue — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Red King Crab — fisheries.noaa.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. KING CRAB Definition & Meaning — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. KING CRAB Definition & Meaning — dictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. King crab - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms — vocabulary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature