🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

The King crab, belonging to the genus Lithodes, stands as an emblematic entity within the marine ecosystem, renowned for both its remarkable physiology and substantial economic relevance. This marine decapod, prominently distributed across the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere.

King crabs boast a distinctive morphology, characterized by a pronounced calcified exoskeleton, a pair of robust chelae (claws), and a distinctive abdomen, neatly tucked under the thorax. Their body is shielded by a spiny, heart-shaped carapace, the function of which transcends mere protection, also facilitating muscle attachment crucial for locomotion.

The reproductive cycle commences with a mating ritual, often initiated by males through an intricate series of tactile and visual signals. Upon external fertilization, females brood thousands to millions of eggs beneath their abdomen for approximately one year, safeguarding them from potential predators and the ambient aquatic environment.