Chionoecetes opilio, commonly known as the snow crab, inhabits cold, northern ocean waters. It has a hard, rounded carapace, long legs, and is known for its pale coloration. Snow crabs are scavengers and play a crucial role in the marine food web.

Chionoecetes opilio, commonly known as the snow crab, is native to the cold waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. It is primarily found in the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. Its distribution also extends along the Atlantic coast of Canada, Greenland, and the northern United States, including the Gulf of Maine.

Snow crabs inhabit cold, marine environments, typically at depths ranging from 13 to 2,187 meters, although they are most commonly found between 20 and 200 meters. They prefer substrates of mud, sand, or gravel on the ocean floor. The water temperatures they thrive in generally range from -1 to 4 degrees Celsius.

Snow crabs play a significant role in the benthic food web. They are both predators and scavengers, feeding on bottom-dwelling organisms such as mollusks, other crustaceans, and detritus. Additionally, they are prey for a variety of larger marine species, including fish like cod and halibut, as well as marine mammals.