Lithodes richeri

Lithodes richeri is a species of king crab.^[2][3] It has been found in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and eastern Australia at depths between 860–1,220 m (2,820–4,000 ft).^[2][4]

Lithodes richeri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Anomura
Family:	Lithodidae
Genus:	Lithodes
Species:	L. richeri
Binomial name
Lithodes richeri Macpherson, 1990[1]

Description

Lithodes richeri has a pyriform carapace and is overall deep-red in colour.^[5] The largest female carapace yet measured is 143 mm (5.6 in) in postorbital length^[a] and 127 mm (5.0 in) in width, while the largest male carapace is 112.1 mm (4.41 in) in postorbital length and 105.8 mm (4.17 in) in width.^[7] When the rostrum – angled upward at about 30° – is included, it accounts for anywhere from slightly more to slightly less than half the length of the carapace.^[8] This is exceptionally long among king crabs from Australia and New Zealand.^[9] The chelipeds are unequal in size and are slightly larger relative to the postorbital carapace length in males compared to females.^[9] Its first pair of walking legs are the shortest and the third pair the longest; all three pairs of walking legs are longer relative to postorbital carapace length in males compared to females.^[9]

Distribution

Lithodes richeri is found in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and eastern Australia between depths of 860–1,220 m (2,820–4,000 ft).^[4] In 2004, a large female king crab from the Seram Sea was identified as L. richeri, but this was later identified in 2018 as L. ahyongi, a new species.^[4][10]

Notes

1. Postorbital carapace length excludes the rostrum.^[6]