Dungeness crab

Metacarcinus magister

The Dungeness crab is a tasty crab found along the Pacific Coast. It has a hard shell and big claws, and it loves to hide in the sand and rocks.

Hábitat: Coastal areas

Aspecto

The Dungeness crab has a broad, oval-shaped shell that ranges from reddish-brown to purplish. Its most distinctive features are its large, strong claws tipped with white, setting it apart from other brown-shelled crabs.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseMalacostracaOrdenDecapodaFamiliaCancridaeGéneroMetacarcinus

Dungeness crab

Categoría

Invertebrate

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

A female Dungeness crab can carry over a million tiny eggs under her tail!

Their mighty claws are strong enough to crack open tough clam and oyster shells for a meal!

These clever crabs taste and smell the ocean floor using special sensors on their legs!

When they grow, Dungeness crabs shed their entire old shell in a process called molting!

Habilidades especiales

Dungeness crab can quickly burrow into sand because of its powerful legs, which helps them hide from predators.

Dungeness crab can regrow lost limbs because of its amazing biology, which helps them survive attacks from predators.

Dungeness crab has powerful, white-tipped claws that help them crush tough shells of prey and defend against threats.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 10-25 cm
Peso: 0.5-2 kg
Esperanza de vida: 8-13 años
Top Speed: 2 km/h

Dieta y alimentación

A Dungeness crab is an omnivore, eating small animals and plants found on the seafloor.

Diferencias por edad: Younger crabs eat smaller prey and more detritus.

Alimentos principales

clams
small fish
marine worms
other crustaceans
algae
detritus

Método de búsqueda

Ambush

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Sea Otter

Enhydra lutris

Sea otters use rocks to crack open their hard shells.

eaten by

Giant Pacific Octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

Giant Pacific octopuses grab and eat Dungeness crabs.

eaten by

Pacific Halibut

Hippoglossus stenolepis

Large halibut prey on Dungeness crabs on the ocean floor.

eats

California Mussel

Mytilus californianus

Dungeness crabs use their strong claws to crack mussel shells.

Rasgos

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Carroñero

Los carroñeros consumen materia orgánica muerta, ayudando a descomponer los cadáveres y otros desechos en el ecosistema.

Longevo

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos con una esperanza de vida excepcionalmente larga en comparación con otros de su especie.

Costero

Los hábitats costeros son entornos dinámicos situados a lo largo de la interfaz entre la tierra y el mar, influenciados por las mareas, las olas y el agua salada.