Paralomis zealandica, also known as the prickly king crab, is a species of king crab. It is the most widespread species of Paralomis in New Zealand, where it is endemic and known at depths between .
Paralomis zealandica has a pyriform carapace which is 0.90âÂÂ1.05 times as long as it is wide. It is overall ivory-white with the exception of the red-orange found on the spines of its dorsal carapace and in blotches on its legs. The carapace, chelipeds, walking legs, and abdomen are all densely covered in spines, although the dorsal spines eventually reduce to tubercles in adults.
Paralomis zealandica is known from the waters of southeastern New Zealand, where its known range extends from the Cook Strait down to the Bounty and Campbell Plateaus. It is usually found on fine sand and mud bottoms at depths of , but its full known range is .
Paralomis zealandica was described in 1971 by Elliot Watson Dawson and John C. Yaldwyn. The specific name "zealandica" derives from the type locality of New Zealand.