Biggest King Crab Ever Recorded

The king crab, also known as the Alaskan king crab, is a species of crab that is highly valued for its meat. It is one of the largest crabs in the world and can weigh up to 10 kg. The species is found in the waters off the coast of Alaska, and is known for its delicious meat and unique flavor.

The king crab is a remarkable species that has fascinated people for years. Its size, unique flavor, and delicious meat make it a highly sought-after delicacy, and its record-breaking size has captured the attention of people all over the world. While there have been several records of the biggest king crab ever caught, the species continues to be a mystery, and there is still much to learn about this fascinating creature.

World Record King Crab

The Red King Crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) is one of the largest and most commercially valuable crab species. It is found in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The species has been known to produce some of the largest crabs ever recorded.

The largest Red King Crab ever recorded was caught in the Bering Sea in 1977. It weighed 28 pounds and had a leg span of 5 feet. This is still an impressive size for a crab, but it falls short of the record held by the Giant Spider Crab.

Despite this, Red King Crabs have been known to break records in other ways. For example, the fishing industry has seen an increase in the number of large crabs being caught in recent years. This may be due to improved fishing methods and stricter sorting of the crabs aboard vessels transporting live crabs.

Species and Genera

King crabs belong to the superfamily Lithodoidea, which includes three families: Lithodidae, Hapalogastridae, and Lomisidae. Within the Lithodidae family, there are two subfamilies: Lithodinae and Paralithodinae. The Paralithodinae subfamily includes the six major commercial species of king crabs that are commonly consumed: blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus), golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus), red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), scarlet king crab (Lithodes couesi), tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi), and snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) (King crabs of the world: biology and fisheries management).

The largest king crab ever recorded was a male red king crab caught in 1977 off the coast of Alaska. It weighed 28 pounds and had a carapace width of 18.5 inches (King crabs of the world: species and distributions).

Apart from the six major commercial species, there are other species of king crabs that are not commonly consumed, such as the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) and the Tasmanian giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas) (King crabs of the world: species and distributions).

King crabs are not to be confused with coconut crabs (Birgus latro), which are not true crabs but are a type of land-living hermit crab that can grow up to 3 feet in length and weigh up to 9 pounds (King crabs of the world: biology and fisheries management).

Physical Characteristics

King crabs are known for their large size and impressive physical characteristics. They have long legs and large claws that can be used for defense and foraging. The legs of king crabs are covered in spines and have a reddish-brown color. The claws are large and powerful, with sharp tips that can easily crush shells and other hard objects.

The carapace width of king crabs can vary depending on the species. The largest species of king crab is the Colossal King Crab, which can have a carapace width of up to 28 inches (71 cm). Jumbo King Crabs are also quite large, with a carapace width of up to 18 inches (46 cm).

The leg span of king crabs can also vary depending on the species. The largest species of king crab is the Colossal King Crab, which can have a leg span of up to 9 feet (2.7 m). Jumbo King Crabs have a leg span of up to 6 feet (1.8 m).

King crabs are also known for their impressive size. The Colossal King Crab is the largest species of king crab, and can weigh up to 20 pounds (9 kg). Jumbo King Crabs are also quite large, with a weight of up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg).

Growth and Reproduction

King crabs are known for their impressive size, with some individuals reaching up to 24 pounds in weight and a leg span of 5 feet. Despite their size, king crabs have a slow growth rate, taking up to 6 years to reach maturity. During this time, they undergo several molts, shedding their exoskeleton to grow larger.

Female king crabs are typically larger than males, with the largest recorded female measuring 28 cm in carapace width. Females also have a higher fecundity than males, with the ability to produce up to 400,000 eggs per clutch. The eggs are carried on the female’s abdomen until they hatch into larvae, which then drift in the water column for several months before settling on the seafloor as juveniles.

The reproductive strategy of king crabs is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, food availability, and photoperiod. In colder waters, king crabs have a longer reproductive season and produce larger eggs, while in warmer waters, the reproductive season is shorter and the eggs are smaller.

Habitat and Distribution

King crabs are primarily found in the northern Pacific Ocean, including the waters off Alaska, Japan, and the Kamchatka Peninsula. They are also found in southern Australia. King crabs inhabit a variety of habitats, including rocky areas, mud, and sand. They are typically found on the continental shelf, but can also be found at depths of up to 2000 meters.

The distribution of king crabs is influenced by a variety of factors, including water temperature, salinity, and depth. In Alaska, the distribution of king crabs is primarily limited to the southeastern Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. In Japan, king crabs are primarily found in the Sea of Japan. In the Kamchatka Peninsula, king crabs are found in the Okhotsk Sea and the Bering Sea.

King crabs are also found in a variety of habitats. In Alaska, they are primarily found in rocky areas, while in Japan, they are found in muddy areas. In the Kamchatka Peninsula, king crabs are found in both rocky and muddy areas.

Conservation and Threats

The king crab is a valuable resource for many coastal communities and is often the target of commercial fishing. However, overfishing has led to a decline in king crab populations in some areas. In addition, invasive species such as the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) have been introduced to some areas and can compete with native species for resources, potentially threatening local ecosystems.

Efforts to conserve king crab populations have been implemented in some areas. For example, minimum size limits for male crabs have been established to help ensure that enough crabs reach reproductive age. In addition, some areas have implemented fishing quotas to limit the number of crabs that can be caught each year.

Despite these conservation efforts, king crab populations continue to face threats from a variety of sources. Climate change, for example, has the potential to alter ocean temperatures and currents, which could impact the distribution and abundance of king crab populations. Invasive species also remain a concern, as they can outcompete native species and alter local ecosystems.