KING CRAB

also called Alaskan King Crab, or Japanese Crab (Paralithodes camtschatica), marine crustacean of the order Decapoda. This edible crab is found in the shallow waters off Japan and along the coast of Alaska. It also inhabits the Bering Sea. The king crab is one of the largest crabs, weighing 5 kilograms (11 pounds) or more. Its size and tasty flesh make it a valued food, and large numbers are commercially fished each year. The name king crab is also used for members of the arthropod subclass Xiphosura, which is commonly called horseshoe crab (q.v.).