lithodid

Lithodid refers to a family of decapod crustaceans, commonly known as king crabs and stone crabs, belonging to the infraorder Anomura. This family, Lithodidae, is characterized by its asymmetrical body shape and its tendency to have only three pairs of well-developed walking legs, with the fourth pair greatly reduced and often held tucked beneath the carapace, resembling a fifth leg. This reduced fourth pair is a key distinguishing feature from true crabs (Brachyura).

The Lithodidae family is diverse, encompassing a wide range of species found in marine environments worldwide, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea. They are often large and robust, with some species being commercially important for their edible meat. Their diet typically consists of mollusks, other crustaceans, and echinoderms, which they crush and consume with their powerful claws. Lithodids exhibit significant variation in morphology and habitat preference across their many species. Their evolutionary relationship with hermit crabs is a subject of ongoing scientific research, with genetic and morphological evidence suggesting a close connection.