Lithodes aotearoa


Lithodes aotearoa is a species of king crab endemic to New Zealand. It had formerly been confused with L. longispina and L. murrayi, which until 2010 were thought to occur in the region. It is the second most widespread and common lithodid in New Zealand waters after Neolithodes brodiei, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation classifies it as "Not Threatened".

Description

Lithodes aotearoa is deep-purplish red in colour and has a pyriform carapace. The carapace is covered with prominent, slender spines in juveniles and short, conical spines in adults. Inbetween the spines are a smooth surface sparsely dotted with granules or small secondary spines. Its carapace has been measured as large as in postrostral length and in width in a male specimen. The largest known female carapace measures in postrostral length and in width. Its rearmost pair of walking legs is the longest, and its legspan can be over. It is the largest lithodid known from New Zealand.

Fisheries

Lithodes aotearoa are commercially fished in the waters around New Zealand. They are included, with Neolithodes brodiei, in the total allowable commercial catch of up to for king crabs under New Zealand's Quota Management System.

Works cited

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