the.com/king crab
Not actually a crab — it's a hermit crab that gave up and got huge.
means A large crab-like crustacean (often king crab specifically refers to species in the family Lithodidae) prized as seafood, known for its long spiny legs and hefty, meaty claws.
from The name is straightforward marketing-meets-description: 'king' for its imposing size and premium status at the table, 'crab' for its crab-like appearance — though true crabs it is not. Lithodid crabs evolved from hermit crab ancestors, which is why their body plan is subtly asymmetrical and odd compared to 'real' crabs like the blue crab or Dungeness; the resemblance to a crab is a case of convergent evolution, not close kinship.
- true identity
- evolved from hermit crab ancestors, not true crabs
- leg count
- ten legs, but one pair hides inside the shell
- size record
- can weigh over 20 pounds, leg span 6 feet
- harvest risk
- deadliest catch is literal: brutal Bering Sea fishing