Head to head
Red King Crab vs Yeti Crab
Neither the red king crab nor the yeti crab is a true crab, but beyond that shared classification the two could hardly live more different lives.
| Red King Crab | Yeti Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Paralithodes camtschaticus | Kiwa hirsuta |
| Anomuran classification | Not a true crab, closer to hermit crabs | Not a true crab, its own family Kiwaidae |
| Size | Nearly 2 metres across outstretched legs | About 15 cm across including legs |
| Diet | Omnivore scavenging worms, molluscs, algae, carrion | Omnivore, mainly farming bacteria on its own bristles |
| Notable feature | Only three pairs of visible walking legs | Claws and legs covered in dense, hair-like bristles |
| Habitat type | Cold open seafloor of the North Pacific | Hydrothermal vent fields of the southern Pacific |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Red King Crab vs Yeti Crab: common questions
Are the red king crab and yeti crab true crabs?
No, neither is a true crab, both belonging instead to Anomura, though the red king crab is more closely related to hermit crabs while the yeti crab belongs to its own distinct family, Kiwaidae.
Which one farms bacteria for food?
The yeti crab is the one that farms bacteria, cultivating colonies directly on the dense bristles covering its claws and legs, while the red king crab instead scavenges worms, molluscs, algae, and carrion across the open seafloor.
Which one lives around hydrothermal vents?
The yeti crab lives around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, while the red king crab is found across the open cold-water seafloor of the North Pacific, unrelated to vent activity.