Hapalogaster grebnitzkii

Hapalogaster grebnitzkii, commonly known as the fuzzy lithode crab,^[2] is a species of king crab in the subfamily Hapalogastrinae.^[3] It is endemic to the north Pacific Ocean – from the northern Sea of Japan in the west to northern British Columbia in the east.^[4] It has been found to a depth of 90 m (300 ft).^[4]

Hapalogaster grebnitzkii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Anomura
Family:	Lithodidae
Genus:	Hapalogaster
Species:	H. grebnitzkii
Binomial name
Hapalogaster grebnitzkii Schalfeew, 1892[1]

Description

Hapalogaster grebnitzkii has a relatively flat carapace which is longer than it is wide and is covered in setae.^[5][6] The male's carapace measures about 23 mm × 24 mm (0.91 in × 0.94 in).^[5] Its abdomen is pale brown and covered in setae.^[5] Like all king crabs, the male's abdomen is symmetrical while the female's has larger segments on the left side than the right.^[7]

Parasites

Like several other king crab species, Hapalogaster grebnitzkii is host to parasitic dinoflagellates in the genus Hematodinium.^[8]