Seafood lovers flock to the country, and crabs are often their top choice. Crabs also hold an important place in Chinese culinary culture, with various varieties frequently appearing on the tables of gourmets. So, do you know what the world's largest crab is? Below, we introduce ten of the world's largest crabs, including the giant spider crab, the giant sand crab, the Alaskan king crab, the coconut crab, the mud crab, and the common yellow crab, among others. Let's learn more about them together.
1. Giant spider crab (average weight 20 kg)
The largest crab in the world is undoubtedly the giant spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi). Also known as the Japanese spider crab, giant spider crab, tall-legged crab, and killer crab, it is the largest living crustacean on Earth and the only species in the family Macrocheiraidae within the order Brachyura. These enormous creatures are covered in a deep orange exoskeleton with white spots and have ten long limbs. Their first two limbs are developed into massive claws, with the largest individuals reaching up to 4.2 meters in length when extended, a body length of up to 38 centimeters, and a weight of up to 20 kilograms. They can live up to 100 years. Giant spider crabs inhabit the deep Pacific Ocean, from Iwate Prefecture in Japan to the northeastern tip of Taiwan, feeding on sharks, hagfish, other crabs, and various fish. Like many crabs, the giant spider crab also has a scavenging habit, hence its occasional nickname, "carcass crab."
2. Giant sand crab (weighing over 13.5 kg)
The giant king crab, also known as the Australian giant crab or Tasmanian deep-sea devil crab, belongs to the family Crambidae in the order Decapoda. It is one of the largest crabs in the world. Adult giant king crabs can reach 41 cm in width and weigh over 13.5 kg. These spectacular creatures have red and white shells, a fan-shaped carapace, and exceptionally robust claws and legs. They are known as the "King of Crabs" due to their enormous size and delicious meat. They inhabit the continental shelf waters of southern Australia, preferring water temperatures between 12 and 14°C, which they consider optimal. They are typically nocturnal, but will also be active during the day in accordance with the tides. Their diet consists mainly of slow-moving snails, starfish, hermit crabs, and even dead fish, a diet that contrasts sharply with their enormous size.
3. Alaskan king crab (average weight 10 kg)
The Alaskan king crab, also known as the stone crab or rock crab, scientifically named *Lithocarpus cambodianus*, belongs to the family Lithocaridae in the suborder Anomura of the order Decapoda. While it resembles a crab in appearance, it is not strictly a true crab and is more closely related to a hermit crab. This deep-sea crab primarily inhabits cold waters and typically weighs around 10 kilograms, with its legs reaching up to 1.8 meters in length when extended. Possessing strong, long legs, it is one of the few crabs capable of both sideways and vertical walking, ranking among the top three largest crabs in the world. Due to its enormous size and delicious meat, it is widely caught and consumed as a delicacy, and can often be found in the frozen food section of large supermarkets.
4. Coconut crab (heaviest weight can reach 8 kg)
One of the world's largest crabs is the coconut crab. Besides giant crabs like spider crabs, king crabs, and emperor crabs, the coconut crab is also among them. Coconut crabs are hermit crabs with hard shells and two powerful claws. They are adept at climbing tall coconut trees to eat the coconuts, hence their name. As one of the largest crabs on Earth, the coconut crab is not only the largest land crab but also one of the largest terrestrial arthropods. Individuals can typically grow up to 1 meter long and weigh up to 8 kilograms. These crabs mainly inhabit the coastal areas of tropical forests, and their range extends throughout the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
5. Serratus anserina (heaviest can weigh up to 3 kg)
The mud crab (Scylla serrata) is a highly regarded species in marine aquaculture and one of my country's ten most famous crabs. There are four main types of mud crabs, and among them, the largest is the mud crab (Scylla serrata). Also known as the yellow-shelled crab or scylla, it boasts the most magnificent body among mud crabs and is one of the most expensive species. Its carapace width can typically reach 20 cm, and its weight is about 1.5 kg; the largest individuals can even reach a carapace width of 28 cm and a weight of 3 kg. Once cooked, the entire body of the mud crab turns a striking red, hence its nickname "red crab." The mud crab's two claws exhibit an asymmetrical shape, and its legs have a distinct reticulated pattern, a rare characteristic that local fishermen call it the "flower-legged crab."
6. Common yellow crab (heaviest weight can reach 3 kg)
One of the world's largest crabs is the common zodiacal crab. Commonly known as the bread crab, it has a reddish-brown, oval-shaped shell, resembling a walking loaf of bread. It is one of the three largest species of zodiacal crabs, with a massive body size; the shell width is typically around 15 centimeters, with the largest individuals reaching 25 centimeters and the heaviest weighing up to 3 kilograms. Females are usually larger than males. Common zodiacal crabs are widely distributed, mainly inhabiting the North Sea, North Atlantic, and Mediterranean Sea, especially thriving in the Northeast Atlantic. These crabs are primarily nocturnal and feed mainly on benthic animals such as crustaceans and mollusks. In the market, the most common bread crabs are mainly from Scotland and Ireland, hence they are often called "British bread crabs" or "Irish golden crabs."
7. Snow crab (heaviest weight can reach 2.5 kg)
Snow crabs, also known as leatherworker crabs (in the US) and queen crabs (in Canada and Europe), are scientifically named *Snow Crab*. These crabs primarily inhabit the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, typically living in cooler waters. Snow crabs are known for their large size, long legs, and abundant meat. Currently, the most common snow crabs on the market are the gray-eyed snow crab and the red-eyed snow crab. Generally, what is the largest weight of these two types of snow crabs? Gray-eyed snow crabs typically weigh between 0.7 and 1.1 kg; while red-eyed snow crabs usually weigh between 1.4 and 2.5 kg. Of these two types, the gray-eyed snow crab has the largest global catch and the widest distribution, therefore its popularity and commercial value are also the highest.
8. Chief Yellow Crab (heaviest weight can reach 1.5 kg)
The Dungeness crab, also known as the Dungeness crab, is one of the three giants among zodiac crab species, ranking eighth on the list of the world's largest crabs. It is named after the old town of Dungeness in Washington state, USA, and is called the Vancouver crab in Canada. Domestically, it is commonly known as the Dungeness crab. This crab is one of the largest and most commercially valuable crabs in the world. Only male Dungeness crabs are permitted for harvesting; they are also called Prince crabs. Male Dungeness crabs have a V-shaped abdominal flap, and their carapace width is typically between 16 and 20 centimeters, with some weighing up to 1.5 kilograms.
9. Swimming crab (up to 1 kg in weight)
The swimming crab, also known as the spear crab, sea crab, or white crab, is scientifically named *Portunus trituberculatus*. It primarily inhabits waters at depths of 10-50 meters, with the highest concentrations typically found in muddy or sandy bottom areas at depths of 10-30 meters. Their distribution range includes coastal areas of Japan, Korea, the Malay Archipelago, the Red Sea, and China. Due to its rich, succulent, and highly nutritious meat, the swimming crab is not only an important economic crab species in coastal China but also a popular export product, highly favored by consumers. Swimming crabs are large, typically reaching 20 cm in width and 0.4 kg in weight, with some reaching up to 1 kg, making it one of the largest crab species in China.
10. Christmas Island Red Crab (heaviest weight up to 0.48 kg)
The red crab, also known as the land red crab, red ground crab, or Australian red crab, is a land crab found only on Christmas Island and Cocoa Island in the Indian Ocean and managed by the Australian government. These crabs have black carapaces, while their abdomens and limbs shimmer with a bright red color, resembling a grilled lobster. Typically, their carapaces can reach up to 11.6 cm in length, and they weigh between 0.415 and 0.48 kg, possessing closed gills. During the annual breeding season, a spectacular migration of red ground crabs takes place on several small islands in Australia. To protect these crabs, the local government has built dedicated wildlife corridors for their migration and even closes roads and railways during peak migration periods to ensure their safe passage.
These crab species stand out for their enormous size and weight, as well as their popularity and online attention. However, crab size and weight can vary depending on different standards and measurement methods, so the list remains controversial, and we welcome discussion on this topic.
