Morphology of larval, postlarval, and early juvenile stages of the red king crab is described and illustrated from laboratory reared material; attention is directed to certain aspects of morphology not previously considered. Some behavioural patterns are clarified, with special emphasis on locomotion and feeding. Morphological criteria for distinguishing the first two juvenile stages are proposed; additional morphological criteria for distinguishing zoeal stages are reported. Data on development and growth rates under laboratory conditions at 7–8°C are given for early life history stages. No major morphological differences were observed between early life stages of the red king crab from the native area in the Pacific Ocean and from the Barents Sea.