King crab belongs to the type of arthropods, subtype of crustaceans, genus Craboid. Outwardly similar to a real crab, but systematically closer to hermit crabs. Lives in the Japan, Bering and Okhotsk seas. May migrate to the Barents Sea.
King crab is the most impressive in size among crustaceans. The main parts of the body are the cephalothorax, covered with shell, and the abdomen (abdomen). The female differs from the male in a more developed abdomen. He has no tail. There is no internal skeleton either, its role is played by the shell, additionally protecting from enemies.
The gills are located under the shell on the sides, the heart is in the back, the stomach is in the head. There are 11 large spikes in the shell above the stomach, and only 6 above the heart. The crab has 4 pairs of legs that are clearly visible, and the fifth pair is hidden under the shell. It serves not for movement, but for cleaning the gills. On the front pair of legs, the claws are most developed. The crab uses its right claw to break open mollusk shells and sea urchin shells, and the left claw to cut open sea worms.
King crab has a dark red shell with a purple hue, for which it is called red. The inside of the shell is yellowish white. The mass of a large male can reach 7kg, shell width - 28 cm, span of middle legs - 1.5 m. They can live up to 20 years if they are not caught and eaten. Enemies are humans, octopuses, gobies, cod, sea otters, etc.
King crabs annually follow the same route, migrate. They spend winter at a depth of about 250 m, and in spring they move to shallow water to molt and breed. In autumn they go back to deep water. A change in water temperature serves as a signal for movement. Crabs do not move alone, they move a lot, thousands, hundreds of thousands. Moreover, large males are kept separately from young animals and females. For a year, crabs wind up to 100 kilometers along the seabed.
Adult crabs molt once a year. The molt lasts 3 days, on these days the males hide under stones, burrow into holes. Together with the shell, their intestines, esophagus, stomach walls, and tendons are renewed.
Changing the shell, the female releases eggs (eggs can be from 20,000 to 445,000) under the abdomen. She bears it for 11.5 months. The next year, moving to shallow water, the larvae emerge from the eggs, while the females continue to move. The female lays eggs once a year, and the male can mate with several females during the breeding season.
King crabs mature late, females reach sexual maturity at 8 years old and males at 10 years old. They have an unusual courtship ritual. Holding on to each other with claws, they can stand for 3-7 days. The female assists the male in the process of molting, then mating occurs.
The larvae survive a little, about 4%. At first, the larva swims in the water, and moves due to the movement of the jaws. Then it settles on the bottom, living in algae. Only by the age of three does she leave her habitat, having managed to shed several times. Starts migrating at 5-7 years old.
King crab - an object of profitable fishing, but recently limited due to their reduced numbers. King crab meat is a valuable dietary product, a delicacy containing vitamins A, PP, C, group B and trace elements. The most valued right claw. The shells and entrails are also used, they make excellent fertilizer.
