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Many spined king crab

Paralomis multispina

  • Crustaceans
  • IUCN: Not evaluated
  • Usual depth914–1,602 m
  • Water temperature5–29 °C
  • Best monthsMay, July, and August
  • How commonRare
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About this species

Paralomis multispina, also sometimes known as the Oregon hair crab and, in Japanese, エゾイバラガニ, is a species of king crab. It is red and covered in numerous spines, and it is found in the North Pacific from depths between 500–1,665 m (1,640–5,463 ft).

Text from the Wikipedia article “Paralomis multispina”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 2 records
  • February: 1 records
  • March: 2 records
  • April: 2 records
  • May: 7 records
  • June: 2 records
  • July: 9 records
  • August: 8 records
  • September: 2 records
  • October: 3 records
  • November: 3 records
  • December: 1 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 914–1,602 m · Deepest record: 2,413.1 m

  • 590–600 m: 42 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 5–29 °C

  • 4–6 °C: 50 records
  • 6–8 °C: 4 records
  • 8–10 °C: 23 records
  • 10–12 °C: 10 records
  • 12–14 °C: 9 records
  • 14–16 °C: 2 records
  • 16–18 °C: 6 records
  • 18–20 °C: 1 records
  • 20–22 °C: 3 records
  • 22–24 °C: 0 records
  • 24–26 °C: 0 records
  • 26–28 °C: 0 records
  • 28–30 °C: 1 records

Names and classification

English
Many spined king crab, Many spined spider crab, Many-spined king crab, Spiny king crab, Spiny paralomis, many-spined king crab, spiny king crab
Names in 3 more languages
German
Stachelige Königskrabbe
French
crabe royal épineux
Japanese
エゾイバラガニ

Other scientific names: Leptolithodes multispinus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 153 open-data records from 1888 to 2023.
  • Species data updated November 5, 2026.

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