Difference Between Snow Crab and King Crab

Key Difference – Snow Crab vs King Crab

Snow crab and king crab are two species ofcrustaceansand you can notice some difference between them in their physical characteristics. Crabs belong to orderDecapodaand are characterized by the presence of 10 segmented legs (decopds), hard crust, sideway walking behavior, and the ability to survive on both lands and water (most crabs). Thekey differencebetween snow crab and king crab is that theSnow Crab is classified under the genusChionoecetesunder familyOregoniidaewhileKing Crab is classified under ten different genera of familyLithodidae。In this article, the anatomy of both crab species are elaborated in order to easily find the difference between snow crab and king crab.

What is Snow Crab?

Snow crab is a crustacean classified under genus Chionoecetes. It isnative to northwest Atlantic and North Pacific oceansand is a well-known species for commercial harvesting for human consumption. It has around carapacewith ashortrostrum。width of the carapace of a fully grown male crab is around 160 mm.Male crabsare larger than female crabs. Males can be easily distinguished by the size of the claw. Predatory snow crabs arebenthic无脊椎动物and feed on small无脊椎动物such as crustaceans, bivalves, brittle stars,annelid worms, etc. Moreover, these crabs are also scavengers. In addition, cannibalism is also seen among intermediate-sized females.

What is King Crab?

King Crabs or Stone Crabsare crustaceans and are famous as food due to their larger size and taste of their meat. Ten king crab species have been identified so far. Among them,Red King Crabis the largest species of king crabs and most common commercially harvested crabs. It is thought that the king crabs were derived from hermit crab- like ancestors. King crabs are usuallyfound in cold seas。Thecarapace widthof a red crab is around28 cm。王蟹可以容忍a wide range of temperature and salinity levels. King crab oftenlives in fairly deep water。

What is the difference Snow Crab and King Crab?

Classification of Snow Crab and King Crab

Snow Crab:Snow crab is classified under the genusChionoecetesunderfamilyOregoniidae。

King Crab:King crabs are classified under ten different genera offamilyLithodidae。

Features of Snow Crab and King Crab

Body size

Snow Crab:A grown male crab is around 160 mm

King Crab: King crabs are larger than snow crabs.

Habitat

Snow crab:Snow crabs are native to northwest Atlantic and North Pacific oceans

King crab: King crabs are usually found in cold waters.

Anatomy

帝王蟹:King crabs have moreprominent spines like structures在他们的外骨骼与雪蟹。

Snow Crab:Snow Crabs havetriangular spines.

Image Courtesy:

“Chionoecetes opilio” by Takaaki Nishioka – Flicr.com.(CC BY-SA 2.0)viaWikimedia Commons

“Redkingcrab”by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Public Domain) viaWikimedia