ABSTRACT
King crabs are protected by a rigid exoskeleton composed mostly of chitin that covers all external parts. Bodies are composed of a cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and an abdomen. Dorsally and laterally, the covering of the cephalothorax is referred to as the carapace. The carapace is dorsoventrally attened. Areas of the cephalothorax include the frontal, gastric, cardiac, and branchial regions. External body plans of the carapace and pereiopods are depicted in Figure 4.1a and b.
