Hobbies And Interests
Size
King crabs are named well: they are the largest of all commercial crab species--in other words, the largest type of crab that people eat (larger versions have been found deep on the ocean floor). Adult king crabs can grow as long as eight feet, although most specimens are somewhat smaller than this.
Legs
The king crab stands out as one of the few crabs that has only six legs. Most crabs have eight legs, not including their pincers, but the king crab has only six. Their right claws are noticeably larger than their left, and all their legs can be identified by the spiny growths which develop for protection as the crab ages.
Color
There are three colors of king crab: red, blue and brownish-gold. The golden king crab is the smallest and is not often used commercially, while the red king crab is the most common and by far the most popular for eating. Blue king crabs are also caught, and are notable for their claws, which are larger than those possessed by the other species.
Habitat
King crab typically populate fairly shallow waters when they are young, but can live in depths up to 1,190 feet. They need a course substrate to live in, with boulders, rocks and the remnants of shells where many other, smaller microorganisms live. This makes it easier for the king crab to hide, while young the crabs tend to form temporary colonies for protection and branch out into other areas, splitting up after reaching about four years in age.
Food
The food the king crab eats depends on its size and maturity. While young, the king crab eats mostly plankton and then moves on to small ocean-dwelling organisms like diatoms, hydroids and small crab species. Adult king crabs eat starfish and shellfish, along with some types of algae.