Lithodes aotearoa is a New Zealand species of king crab. It had formerly been confused with L. longispina and L. murrayi, but neither of those species are found in New Zealand. It is the second most widespread and common lithodid in New Zealand waters after Neolithodes brodiei, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation classifies it as "Not Threatened".[1]
L. aotearoa is deep-purplish red in colour and has prominent, slender spines on its dorsal surface with the area inbetween being mostly smooth. They have a pyriform carapace having been measured as large as 195mm in postrostral length and 199.1mm in width in males. In females, the largest carapace measured 190.5mm in postrostral length and 183.9mm in width. They are the largest lithodids known from New Zealand.