Red King Crabタラバガニ

Species Data

Classification

Decapoda (Anomura) / Lithodidae Source

Distribution

Native to cold North Pacific waters below 10°C, from the Sea of Okhotsk and Bering Sea to the Arctic Ocean, ranging south to Sado, Japan and north to Arctic Alaska; introduced to the Barents Sea by the Soviet Union in the 1960s, where it is now an established invasive species. Source

Did You Know?

• Despite its name, it is more closely related to hermit crabs than true crabs—evidenced by the asymmetrical abdomen of females. Source
• Living specimens are dark purple, turning bright orange-red only when cooked—the color that gives the species its English name. Source

FAQ

Is the red king crab a true crab?

No—taxonomically it belongs to Anomura, the same group as hermit crabs, not the true crabs (Brachyura), as shown by the asymmetry of the female's abdomen. Source

Why is it called 'red' king crab if it looks dark purple alive?

Its living shell is dark purple; it only turns the familiar bright red-orange color after being cooked. Source