# 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. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Dungeness ![Dungeness crab](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/DungenessCrab.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dan Boone, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DungenessCrab.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Malacostraca - **Order:** Decapoda - **Family:** Cancridae - **Genus:** Metacarcinus ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Quick Burrower:** Dungeness crab can quickly burrow into sand because of its powerful legs, which helps them hide from predators. - **Regenerative Limbs:** Dungeness crab can regrow lost limbs because of its amazing biology, which helps them survive attacks from predators. - **Crushing Claws:** Dungeness crab has powerful, white-tipped claws that help them crush tough shells of prey and defend against threats. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-2 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-13 years - **Speed:** 2 km/h ## Diet & Feeding A Dungeness crab is an omnivore, eating small animals and plants found on the seafloor. - **Age differences:** Younger crabs eat smaller prey and more detritus. - **Primary Foods:** clams, small fish, marine worms, other crustaceans, algae, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Sea Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful around crabs; their claws can pinch! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dungeness crab? Look for fins, arms, tentacles, shells and body symmetry. Underwater light shifts colors, so structure and markings usually matter more than shade. Sea Creature Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Dungeness crab? 10-25 cm ### How much does Dungeness crab weigh? 0.5-2 kg ### How long does Dungeness crab live? 8-13 years ### How fast can Dungeness crab move? 2 km/h ### What does Dungeness crab eat? A Dungeness crab is an omnivore, eating small animals and plants found on the seafloor. ### Where is Dungeness crab usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Dungeness crab hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Port Townsend Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/port-townsend-historic-district) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Sandwell Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sandwell-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Gabriola Sands Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gabriola-sands-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Dungeness crab](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/dungeness-crab) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Dungeness crab: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dungeness-crab)