E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Lithodes couesi Benedict, 1895
Scarlet King Crab
Family: Lithodidae

Species account author: Josephine Hart.
Extracted from Crabs and their relatives of British Columbia.
Photo of species

© Aaron Baldwin  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #2088)

E-Fauna BC Static Map
Distribution of Lithodes couesi in British Columbia
Details about map content are available here.

Species Information

Carapace margined with sharp spines with smaller conical spines on dorsal area and on cheliped and walking legs. Rostrum with bifid tip and a pair of lateral spines. Subequal chelipeds shorter than walking legs. Eyestalk small; cornea terminal. Acicle of antenna small with slender spines. Abdomen not spined; 2nd segment composed of fused plates. Juveniles strikingly different due to the proportions of the body and length of spines.

Size

Carapace: male 105 x 81 mm.

Colour

Carapace rose pink with white grooves. Spines red with yellow tips and some small white granules. Chelipeds crimson with white joints; fingers with white teeth and yellow setae. Walking legs crimson with white spots and knobs at junctions; claws yellow with dark tips. Eyestalk red with pink band; cornea red-brown or black. Antennule crimson; flagella orange. Antenna base pink with red spines, the rest crimson, including flagellum. Juveniles scarlet.

Habitat


Dredged from mud or boulders in deep water.

Distribution

Range

Bering Sea to off San Diego, California; from 258 to 1829 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

West of Vancouver Island, Tasu Sound, Engelfield Bay, Queen Charlotte Islands, and Dixon Entrance.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Photo Sources

General References


Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2025-02-13 9:11:34 AM]
Disclaimer: The information contained in an E-Fauna BC atlas pages is derived from expert sources as cited (with permission) in each section. This information is scientifically based.  E-Fauna BC also acts as a portal to other sites via deep links.  As always, users should refer to the original sources for complete information.  E-Fauna BC is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the original information.


© E-Fauna BC 2021: An initiative of the Spatial Data Lab, Department of Geography, UBC