Crabs: Description, types, how to eat, cooking tips, equivalents and storage Crabs Crabs are crustaceans. Female Crabs are called "hens"; male crabs are called "cocks." Males are very narrow tails and larger claws. Females have broader tails that are somewhat heart-shaped. Which species of Crab is popular where depends basically on what's available there: in Europe, it's the Spider and Brown Crabs; in North America, on the Atlantic Coast, it's Blue Crabs, and on the Pacific Coast, Dungeness Crabs. In the UK, the most commonly sold crab is the Brown one, though the Spider crab is starting to become popular (as of 2004.) Just as there is light and dark meat on a turkey, there is light and dark meat in a Crab. In general, their claws have white, sweet flesh, and their bodies have brown, rich flesh. Males have more white meat because they have larger claws, but even still, a while crab will be about three-quarters dark meat. Most recipes will ask for the white meat, which is flaky and mild-tasting; the dark meat is sweeter and coarser.

You can use the dark meat in soups, but usually to get enough white meat for a recipe you need to buy it already separately plucked out. Fresh crab meat sold in fish counters is sometimes pasteurized to give it a better shelf life. Don't buy any Crabs that don't show any signs of life (though they won't be all that energetic if refrigerated, they should still make some kind of attempt to move their claws if poked at.) Try to avoid ones that have recently moulted. If a lot of water comes out of the Crabs when you crack them open after cooking, what you were sold is ones that recently moulted and got new shells. They haven't yet grown fully into their new shells, so there will be a lot of water inside them. If the bottom of the Crab is white, chances are their shells are brand new. Look for ones that are stained or rusty-looking on the bottom. Crabs should not smell fishy at all. Though this may seem obvious, the larger the Crab, the more meat there will be on it, and the less fiddly it will be to get that meat out of the body.

Eating Crab Not all Crabs have edible meat in both the bodies and the claws. Dungeness Crabs and Blue Crabs are two examples of Crabs that do. To open a cooked Blue Crab or Dungeness Crab, or other type of Crab that has edible body meat, break off and set aside all the limbs, flip it upside down, and use a knife to pry off the shell in the centre of its bottom (called the "apron" flap.) Turn it right side up, lift off the top shell. Discard both shells, of course (or, if you are doing this in the kitchen, you can freeze them for making a stock later.) You will see a membrane covering the crabmeat, and on top of that some body parts (lungs and other things.) The grey, furry-looking things are the lungs (sometimes called "dead men's fingers".) The stomach is a grey sack just below the head. Scrape the lungs and stomach off, along with other innards and discard (they are not poisonous, but they are indigestible.) Then pull the halves apart, remove the gills and take out the dark meat. There's a bony bit in the centre.

Crack the legs and the claws, and use a skewer to get the white meat out of them. Alaska King Crab Alaska King Crabs gave edible meat in claws and legs. Break off the claws and legs. Use your knife handle to crack them open so you can get at the meat inside them. Discard the body. Stone Crabs Stone Crabs have edible meat in their claws only. Break off the claws. Use your knife handle to crack them open so you can get at the meat inside them. Discard the body and legs. Lump Crabmeat From any Crab, large pieces of Crab that can be used for "presentation", such as in salads or pastas. Backfin Crabmeat Smaller, broken flakes or chunks of Crab meat that can be used in sauces or Crab cakes. Crab Mustard Many people love the strong-tasting, yellow stuff inside a Crab. It is a gland that branches out on both sides of the Crab's stomach to function as its liver and pancreas. In areas where the water may be doubtful, it's best not to eat this, as part of its function is to filter impurities, so any chemical contaminants will be concentrated in the mustard.

Still, aficionados gauge their entire cooking of the Crab on what state they want the mustard in -- neither hard nor runny, they feel it is best cooked just until it is like a soft-boiled egg. Cooking Tips Allow about 1 pound (450g) of unshelled Crab per person. In the summer, ask your seafood dealer for female crabs; in the spring, ask for male crabs. Before cooking Crabs, let them come to room temperature so that you can see if they are alive or not. Discard any dead ones. Crabs may "drop" their claws in an attempt to escape while being cooked. To prevent this, either drop them in ice water a few minutes before cooking to stun them, or kill them by poking an ice pick or a nut pick through their heads (flip the Crab upside down -- stab them through the shell just below their mouth.) Alternatively, you can pop the live Crabs in the freezer until there is no movement from them when poked. This may take up to 1 1/2 hours, but don't leave them in there longer than 2 hours.

This also is considered a "humane" way of killing them, because -- or so the theory goes -- they painlessly slide into unconsciousness. When removing them from the freezer, bear in mind that their claws will now be very brittle, so be careful not to knock them off. If you have kitchen scales, they'll come in handy now. Weigh each Crab, and plan to cook according to the following guide: Weight up to 1 1/4 pounds (550g): 15 minutes; Weight up to 2 pounds (900g): 20 minutes; Weight up to 3 pounds (1.5 kg): 25 minutes; Any weight over that, 30 minutes. Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt per quart / litre of water. Cook the Crabs until their shells turn red and the meat inside is white. A Crab's shell turns red when cooked because the heat destroys all the other pigments except the red. The red pigment, which is called astaxanthin, is heat stable, and comes to prominence when the others disappear.

Equivalents 1 cup of crab meat in lumps = 4 oz / 115g Storage Hints Store fresh Crabs in fridge wrapped in a wet tea towel and use within 24 hours. Literature & Lore "Cooked crab meat comes in two forms, washed and unwashed, and therein lies that little difference in flavor. Which of the two styles you prefer is merely a matter of taste. Washing removes the 'fat,' or immature roe, and gives the whiter meat. Florida supplies 50 per cent of the crab meat on the Eastern markets, and sends the washed only, for the good business reason that the average shopper prefers white meat to ivory-toned. But there is an exclusive group of crab meat epicures who, breathing the rarefied Olympic air of gourmetdom, are willing to pay a dividend for the meat unwashed, claiming it to be richer and more flavorful. Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia send the bulk of the meal unwashed. And no doubt about it, the flavor is more staunchly crab. But you may prefer the meat of greater whiteness, the more delicate taste." -- Paddleford, Clementine (1898 - 1967).

Food Flashes Column. Gourmet Magazine. August 1944. Language Notes Exploring Alaska's Seamounts: Background Red galatheid crabs, often called "pinch-bugs" (family Chirostylidae) are abundant on cobble and rocky slopes of Patton Seamount, and often perch on the branches of gorgonian corals. Click image for larger view. Adaptations of Crabs to Life in the Deep Sea Dr. Bradley G. Stevens Chief Scientist on Leg 1 Fisheries Research Biologist National Marine Fisheries Service Kodiak Fishery Research Center Most of what we know about crabs comes from studies on shallow water species, such as the red king crab (the kind we normally eat). But as you go deeper into the sea, the crabs you encounter become ever more strange. Most have evolved specific adaptations to cope with life in deep water. What are some of these, and what advantages do they offer? First of all, king crabs are not typical crabs. They are closely related to hermit crabs, and have many similar characteristics.

Their abdomens (or tail-section) are twisted to one side, they have large right-handed claws, and their legs fold backwards, instead of forwards. Thus they can walk straight forward, unlike a Dungeness crab that normally walks sideways. King crabs also have an unusual mode of development. Most crabs hatch from eggs as a swimming shrimp-like larva, that immediately begins to feed on small planktonic organisms. Red king crabs do this too, but before they become bottom-dwelling crabs, they go through a transitional stage that is not capable of eating. Red king crabs live in relatively shallow water (less than 50 m). Because of this they are exposed to seasonally changing conditions of temperature and day length. As a result, they all reproduce during a specific season in the spring. However, most seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska are too deep for red king crabs. The glaucothoe is a transitional stage between the larval and juvenile stages of king crabs. It can swim like the larvae, but has claws, and prefers to find structurally complex habitat in which to settle.

It lacks functional mouthparts or digestive apparatus so does not feed for 3 to 4 weeks, until molting to the juvenile stage. Click image for larger view. Golden king crabs live much deeper, from 200-500 m, so they may not be exposed to strong seasonal signals. As a result, they may not reproduce simultaneously, or even in the same season. Research (by Tom Shirley) has demonstrated that the larvae of golden king crabs do not eat at all, but live off stored yolk, until they become bottom dwelling crabs many months later. In fact, no one has ever captured a larval golden king crab from the ocean. Eggs of golden king crabs are twice as large as those of the red king crab, and contain much more yolk. This is probably an adaptation allowing the larvae to survive at depths where there is much less plankton available as a food source. The scarlet king crab lives even deeper than the golden king crab, and has legs that are much thinner in respect to their length. This may be an adaptation to low oxygen levels, since the scarlet crab lives at 1000 m, near the oxygen minimum zone.

Thinner legs require less oxygen, hence less energy. We don't know what the larvae look like, or how they develop, or when they hatch, or what or even if they eat. Munidopsis albatrossae, a blind "squat lobster" that lives at depths > 2500 m. Click image for larger view. A relative of king crabs, called the squat lobsters, lives below 2000 m. They are ghostly white and have no eyes. They live in rocky habitats where they can probably find food using their sense of smell. Because there is no light at this depth, they have little use for eyes, like a blind cavefish. The deepest crab in the Gulf of Alaska is the large-clawed spider crab. Its body is about 10 cm across, but the legs reach up to 50 cm in length. The claw segment of adult males is over a foot long. They look like a giant daddy-long legs spider on steroids. These crabs live down to at least 3400 m (over 11,000 feet), and yet they have eyes. What for? What purpose do the long legs serve? How do they reproduce?

These are some of the questions we will attempt to answer on our dives in Alvin. Dr. Bradley Stevens holds a male large-clawed spider crab, Macroregonia macrochiera, collected from a depth of 3300 m on Patton Seamount in the Gulf of Alaska. This is the deepest and most northern location they have been observed. Click image for larger view. Most of the other crab species are restricted to specific depth zones by temperature requirements. The only way they can spread to other seamounts is by releasing swimming larvae that are carried across the sea by water currents. The large-clawed spider crab, though, may be able to descend all the way to the bottom of the ocean. In effect, it probably walks across the seafloor, from Hawaii to Alaska. Because there isn't much food down there, it may feed on foodfalls, i.e. dead animals that fall from surface waters, such as whales, sea lions, or large fish. Crabs can go for long periods without eating. When they find a food source, they can live off it for some time, until it is consumed, then go on their way searching for others.

At foodfalls such as this, predator organisms and bacteria may give off phosphorescence (light produced by living organisms) that is detectable by the spider crabs eyes. The scarlet king crab, Lithodes couesi, lives at greater depths than its cousin, the golden king crab. (See adjacent image.) Click image for larger view. Golden king crabs, Lithodes aequispina, are abundant on the rocky pinnacles of seamounts above 500 m depth. Click image for larger view. Their long legs may be an adaptation for traveling long distances. We have much to learn about deep-water crabs, or other species in the deep sea. They are fascinating and puzzling. They can tell us much about how animals cope with life in the deep sea, but they present new and challenging questions as well. We'll never be able to answer them all, but maybe, just maybe, our dives in Alvin will offer us a glimpse of understanding. We hope to use our newfound knowledge to understand and conserve these deep-water species for generations to come. Sign up for the Ocean Explorer E-mail Update List .

Crab Identification and Biology | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Recreational Crab Fishing Crab Identification and Biology Several species of crab are found in Washington's marine waters and along its shores, though only a few are large enough to be of commercial and sport interest. Crabs are crustaceans, having an exterior skeleton or shell. Two crab species (Dungeness and red rock) are harvested locally. Crabs are most commonly harvested with crab pots but are also caught using ring nets, dip nets, and by wading in shallow water during spring and early summer. Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister) Photo courtesy US Fish and Wildlife Service Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister) One of the most popular items on Washington seafood menus is the Dungeness crab. This hardshelled crustacean is fished from the Aleutian Islands to Mexico. The shell is purple-tinged, gray or brown on the back and the tips of the claws are typically white. The Dungeness crab can reach ten inches across the back though six to seven inches is more common. In Puget Sound this crab is most abundant north of Seattle, in Hood Canal, and near the Pacific coast.

The Dungeness crab is frequently associated with eelgrass beds and prefers sandy or muddy substrates. Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) Photo by Kirt L. Onthank Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) Another species similar to, but smaller than the Dungeness, is the red rock crab (aka red crab, rock crab). This species usually measures less than six inches across the back and is characterized by large claws. Despite being less meaty than the Dungeness, red rock crab meat is also very tasty. Where present in considerable abundance, the red rock crab is a serious predator on both oysters and hard-shell clams. In some areas, controls have been necessary to prevent undue damage to clam and oyster crops. It can be distinguished from the Dungeness by the presence of black on the tips of its claws and by its red coloration. The red rock crab also prefers rocky substrates, as the name implies. Box Crab (Lopholithodes foraminatus) or King Crab (Lopholithodes mandtii) Two deep-water species that are occasionally seen in Puget Sound and also occur in deep water off the coast are the box crab and its close relative the king crab.

The latter is called the king crab because of its large size when fully grown (up to 10 inches wide) but is not to be confused with the commercial king crab of Alaska. These crabs are more apt to be seen by divers than fishers with pots. Both are covered with wart-like tubercles and spines and resemble a rough box when their legs and claws are folded against the body. The box crab gets its name from the opening or foramen formed from matching semicircular notches in the claws and first walking legs. When the legs are folded tightly, water enters the gill cavity through this round opening. In the king crab this opening is absent. Puget Sound box crab (Lopholithodes foraminatus) Photo by Will Duguid, University of Victoria Puget Sound King Crab (Lopholithodes mandtii) Photo by Dave Cowles Shore Crabs (Hemigrapsus sp.) Several species of tiny shore crabs can be found on Washington beaches. Contrary to what many believe, these are not the young of larger ocean crabs, but are simply small sized species.

Under most rocks on Puget Sound shores you can find tiny black or gray hairy shore crabs ranging in size from smaller than a fingertip to about the size of a half-dollar. These are of two species, Hemigrapsus nudus and H. oregonensis. Children find it especially fun to watch these crabs crawl and feed in tide pools. Another popular denizen of rocky shores is the hermit crab, characterized by its tendency to use the empty shells of other intertidal creatures as its home. Purple Shore Crab, Naked Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus nudus) Photo by Walter Siegmund Photo by Ciar Reproduction Mating occurs between hard-shelled male crabs and newly molted, soft-shelled female crabs. Take care not to disturb these clasping crab when fishing intertidally. The female crab stores the sperm in a seminal receptacle. Because the female loses the sperm receptacle during growth molts, she cannot molt at the same time the male molts. The eggs are fertilized when they are laid or extruded to become attached to the abdomen of the female. The mass of eggs carried by the female is frequently called the sponge. When first laid, eggs are bright orange in color.

Females in this condition are commonly found buried in the sand or subtidal bottoms. Large females may carry in excess of 2½ million eggs. As the embryos develop the eggs darken to a dirty brown and eventually hatch, producing larval crabs. In no way resembling an adult crab at first, the larvae swim freely in the sea and progress through a series of molts in which their appearance changes considerably. Dense swarms of crab larvae are often seen in the water and are fed on extensively by other marine organisms, including salmon. After developing into the adult shape and at about a quarter of an inch in width, approximately 12 months after mating, juvenile crab take up residence on the ocean bottom. Large numbers of young crabs are found in estuaries where they can tolerate dilutions of two parts fresh water to one part ocean water. The Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay estuaries are considered unique nursery areas for Dungeness crab and certain fishes, such as English sole, with which they share the bottom environment. Growth Because crabs are enclosed in a rigid exterior skeleton they must shed their shell to grow. This molting takes place about seven times during the first year of life and at a decelerating rate there after.

An average size of 1¾ inches across the back is reached one year after the crab takes up bottom life. During a molt, the male crab will gain about 65% in weight. After the second year most crabs are sexually mature and a difference in the rate of growth appears between males and females.Females grow slower and only a small percentage attain a size greater than 6¼ inches across the back, despite complete protection from fishing pressure. Before a crab sheds its aging shell a flexible new shell forms under the old covering. The old shell splits across the rear along what is known as the splitting or suture line and this allows the new-shelled crab to back out of the old shell. Even the coverings of the eye stalks and gills remain with the old shell. On emergence of the new-shelled crab, the tissues are saturated with water and expand the new shell to a larger size. At this stage, the soft-shelled crabs are readily susceptible to predators such as fish and other crabs, especially when confined in a pot. If you find these crab in your pot, please handle them with care.

For a couple of days the survival of a new-shelled crab relies on its ability to remain well hidden or buried in the sand. Within a few days, the soft-shell crab becomes an active, ravenous feeder. It takes about two months, however, for a soft-shelled crab to fill with meat and become a prime quality, hard-shelled crab. Shells shedded by crab may wash in on beaches in large numbers and become the basis for false reports of dead crabs. In still or quiet waters the back of the shell that lifted during molting to let the soft crab out will drop back into position causing the crab to appear whole and dead. In most cases, molted shells break into several pieces before washing ashore and only a few legs or the top of the shell may be found. Tagging studies have shown that the loss of legs reduces the chances of survival, but crabs do have the power to regenerate missing appendages. Complete regeneration requires two or three molts, which explains the occurrence of small, misshapen claws or legs. During the early part of life, lost claws or legs are quickly replaced because of frequent molting, but the same loss to an older crab could take years to replace.

Diet The examination of stomach contents of Dungeness crabs has shown that they feed on a variety of marine forms. Stomachs of ocean crabs most commonly contain hardshell and/or razor clam, fish, and crabs. They may also contain material such as sea stars, worms, squid, snails, and eggs that were originally consumed by their fish or crab prey. Stomach contents obtained in the wild confirm the cannibalistic nature of Dungeness crabs and predation on newly molted crabs by fellow aquarium residents creates problems in laboratory studies. Contrary to general belief, laboratory observations and stomach samples indicate that Dungeness crab will not consume decayed or rotten food. Predators In addition to cannibalistic members of their own species, Dungeness crab are preyed upon a variety of fishes including halibut, dogfish, hake, lingcod, great marbled sculpin, and wolf eel. The Dungeness crab is also a favorite food of the octopus. Human endeavors, such as gillnetting for salmon, otter trawling for bottomfish, and dredging to maintain ship channels, all take their toll on Dungeness crab.

Edible Crab Varieties and Types By Peggy Trowbridge Filippone Crab Varieties There are over 4,400 varieties of crabs. Here is general identifying information for the most common edible varieties of crab. • Blue Crab: Its latin name, Calinectes sapidus, means "beautiful swimmer," and it is indeed a beautiful blue-green color. The most prolific species on the East Coast of the US, this is the crab which also gives us soft-shell crabs. They range in size from 3-1/2 inches up to 5-1/2 inches or more on the market. These crabs do turn the traditional reddish color when cooked. • Dungeness Crab : Latin name Cancer magister, this crab is found in coastal waters from Alaska, United States to Baja, Mexico. This large crab usually weighs in from 1-3/4 to 4 pounds, and is brown to purple in color. It is named for the former small town of Dungeness on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, US, which first began commercially-harvesting the delicacy.

Law requires the crab to be at least 6-1/4 inches long to be harvested, and only males can be taken. Prime season is in the winter months. The pink flesh is succulent and sweet. • Horseshoe Crab: Latin name Limulus polyphemus, this crab is named for its resemblance in shape to a horseshoe. It is considered a living fossil, tracing its roots back some 500 million years. It is found along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to the Yucatan and along Asian coasts from Japan and the Philippines to India. And yes, they are indeed edible, although the ratio of meat to shell is small. • King Crab : Latin name Paralithodes camtschaticus, this giant crab is also often called "Alaskan King crab," " Japanese crab ," and "Russian crab" due to its size, which can reach up to 25 pounds and measure up to 10 feet. It may be large, but only about one-fourth is edible, primarily the legs and claws. Only males are harvested. The delicately-flavored meat is snowy white with a bright red outer edge.

Click for photo • Peekytoe Crab: These are Maine rock or sand crabs which were pretty much a throwaway by-product of lobster fishing before a brilliant marketing move changed their name to "peekytoes" around 1997. They are classified as Cancer irroratus, also known as bay crab and rock crab . You will find full background information on this interesting and popular crab here. • Rock Crab: Latin name Cancer quanbumi, it is found along the East coast of the US, living among rocks and in deep water. Its spindly legs make it resemble a spider, and is also known as "spider crab." "Snow crab," (Chionoecetes opilio) "tanner," and "queen crab" are also known as spider crabs. • Snow Crab: See Rock Crab (above). • Stone Crab : Latin name Menippe mercenaria, it is also called "moro" or "morro" crab. It has large, very hard claws that are prized for their meat. Most of the harvest comes from Florida, US, where it is a prized delicacy harvested from October 15 to May 15.

Only the claws are eaten, so fishermen twist off one claw from crabs and toss them back to grow a new one. Crabs will regenerate their claws within 18 months. They are left with one claw to defend themselves. The law requires these claws to be boiled for 7 minutes and then either put on ice or frozen. The freezing process seems to remove an unpleasant iodine taste which is often noticed in the meat. To determine which claws have the most meat, they are floated in a tank of water, with the less meaty claws rising and being sold as "lights." To serve, the claws are cracked with a mallet and served cold with dipping sauces . Minimum size for claws is 2 to 2.75 ounces. The meat has a firm texture and a sweet, succulent flavor. More About Crabs and Crab Recipes: Dungeness Crab of California and Its Close Relatives Dungeness Crab of California and Its Close Relatives Introduction In California, the most abundant crab is the Dungeness crab, Metacarcinus magister. Related to this crab are several other species that are caught by commercial and recreational fishermen in southern California and northern California. South of Monterey Bay, the Dungeness crab decreases rapidly in abundance.

In southern California, where only an occasional Dungeness crab is caught, considerable quantities of several crabs collectively referred to as "rock crabs" are caught and sold. These are: the yellow crab, Cancer anthonyi, the rock crab, C. antennarius, and the red crab, C. productus. The latter two species also are common in northern California, but only a limited number are caught for sale because of the presence of the larger, meatier, and more abundant Dungeness crab. Sport fishermen do, however, take "rock crabs" for home consumption. In northern California there is one other related species, the slender crab, C. gracilis, small in size, with which the young of the Dungeness crab may be confused. It is with the gross descriptions of the related species mentioned above that this article is concerned, the aim being to aid identification by a few readily observed characteristics rather than by detailed scientific descriptions. These crabs are all of the family Cancridae and the genus Cancer, meaning hard shell, and are characterized by a carapace that is broadly oval and sawtoothed on the front side.

In all, nine species of this family and genus are found in California, but the other four species, Cancer jordani, C. oregonensis, C. amphioetus, and C. gibbosulus, are not described here as they are small and comparatively rare. In California, all the crabs of the above family and genus have black-tipped pincers, except the Dungeness crab and the slender crab which have white-tipped pincers. Molting of Crabs Molting is general among crustaceans. The hard shell of the crab prevents growth and so at intervals of about one year the entire hard shell of the crab is cast off or molted. Before the actual molt, a new protective covering is started, but this is uncalcified and therefore soft. During the period when the shell is cast off, the crab is known as a "soft" crab and it is during this interval of a few days that the crab undergoes a period of rapid growth before the new shell becomes calcified and fixes the size of the crab until the next molt.

At molting time the old shell slits at the junction of the carapace and the abdomen, or tail flap, and the crab, now in the soft shell stage, backs out of the old shell through this slit. It is during the molting period that missing legs are rejuvenated. Following the first molt, after such a mishap, a replaced leg is considerably smaller than the original, but with succeeding molts it attains its normal size. Distinction Between Male and Female Crabs The abdomen, or tail flap, which is folded closely against the underside of the crab, is much broader in the female than in the male crab. This broad tail flap is necessary in the female to accommodate at spawning time the huge numbers of eggs that are attached and receive protection between this flap and the body until hatched. In the adult stage, the comb-like fringe of hair around the edges of the tail flap is quite long in the female but rather short and hardly noticeable in the male (for examples, compare Figures 2A and 2B or Figures 4 and 5) . The average size of female Cancer crabs is significantly less than that of the male crabs in the adult stage.

The female Dungeness crab seldom attains a width much greater than 7 inches measured just anterior of the tenth anterolateral spine. The legal measurement for crabs is defined as the shortest distance through the body from the edge of the shell to the edge of the shell directly from front of points (lateral spines). Identification of Cancroid Crabs The photographs and descriptions given on the following pages should enable the reader to identify the five common species of cancroid crabs. Anyone who is interested in a more detailed description of these crabs, as well as descriptions of other crabs found in California, is referred to the publications listed in the reference section. Dungeness crab, Cancer magister. Top view of a 7 inch male. FIGURE 2 Dungeness crab, Cancer magister. Underside view of (A) a male crab, 7 inches across the back, (B) a female crab, 6 inches across the back. Distinguishing Characters: White-tipped pincers on the claws (chelipeds). The top edges of the claws and upper pincers are prominently sawtoothed, there being more than a dozen teeth along each edge.

The last three joints of the last pair of walking legs (in particular) have a comb-like fringe of hair on the lower edge, and the joint previous to these has hair on both top and bottom edges, but with a much greater amount on the top edge (see Figure 1) . In both male and female, the tip of the last segment of the tail flap is rounded (see photographs) as compared to the pointed last segment of the male and female of all the other crabs herein described (for examples of this pointedness, see Figures 2A and 2B ) . Color: Light reddish brown on the back, with a purplish wash anteriorly in some specimens. The characteristic pattern of lighter streaks and spots on the back is shown in the photograph (Figure 1) . Underside whitish to light orange, the inner and upper sides of the anterior legs with crimson or purple. Size: Attains a width of 9 inches across the back. One of the largest edible crabs along the Pacific Coast of America. Distribution: Unalaska, Alaska, to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, but seldom seen south of Santa Barbara.

* Prior to 1974, the common name in California was the market crab. FIGURE 3 Slender crab, Cancer gracilis. Top and bottom views of a 2 1/2 inch male specimen. Distinguishing Characters: White-tipped pincers on the claws. The tops of the claws are sharp-edged, with two or three prominent teeth, but these edges are not sawtoothed as in the market crab. The last three joints of all the walking legs are hairless. Compare particularly the last three joints of the last pair of legs with those of the Dungeness crab (Figures 1 and 2), the only other crab of this group which has white-tipped pincers, and with which this crab may be confused. Since the slender crab seldom exceeds a width of 3 inches across the back, it can only be confused with the young of the Dungeness crab. The tip of the last segment of the tail flap is pointed in both male and female. For an example of this pointedness, see Figures 3 and 5 and compare with the roundness of this last segment in the Dungeness crab as shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

Color: Light olive brown. The coloring on the front sides of the legs may be a yellowish brown to a purple color in darker specimens. The underside is white or yellowish white. Size: Attains a width of 31/2 inches across the back. Distribution: Alaska to Sebastian Vizcaino Bay, Baja California. Cancer antennarius FIGURE 4 Rock crab, Cancer antennarius. Top and bottom views of a male crab, 5 inches across the back. Distinguishing Characters: Black-tipped pincers on the claws. The hand of the claw is large and smooth. There are a number of small red spots on the underside of the crab (as shown in the photograph) and these are not found on any other crab herein described. In the female, the red spots on the tail flap are usually blocked out by a general red coloration, but the spots can be found on the legs and the underside of the carapace (the red crab may have red blotchings on the underside, but these should not be confused with the distinct spots found in the rock crab).

The tip of the last segment of the tail flap is pointed in both male and female, as for all other crabs described except the Dungeness crab. The two antennae are longer in this species than in any of the others described. Color: Medium to dark red-brown, usually mottled with a lighter grayish tinge. Underparts yellowish white, with some red, and the characteristic red spots are noted above. Size: Attains a width of 7 inches across the back. Distribution: British Columbia to Magdalena Bay, Baja California. Note: Occasionally a small female specimen is encountered that is exceedingly hairy on the legs and underparts, and with the long antennae feather-like. This is an extreme variation of this species, and the red spots on the undersurface, together with the other characters as above, will serve to identify it. Cancer productus FIGURE 5 Red crab, Cancer productus. The upper photograph shows the top surface of a 6 1/2 inch male. The lower photograph shows the under surface of a 5 3/4 inch female crab. Distinguishing Characters: Black-tipped pincers on the claws.

The hands of the claws are noticeably roughened, particularly above, but not distinctly sawtoothed as in the Dungeness crab. The five teeth between the eyes on the front edge of the carapace are of nearly equal size and project a little forward of the eyes. The tip of the last segment of the tail flap is pointed in both male and female, as for all other crabs described except the Dungeness crab. Color: Dark red above, but some specimens are medium red. The underside is yellowish white with orange red blotchings. The tail flap in the female has a great deal of red, as does the tail flap of the female rock crab. The red blotchings on the underside of the red crab are not to be confused with the distinct red spots found on the underside of the rock crab. Size: Attains a width of 8 inches across the back. Distribution: Alaska to Magdalena Bay, Baja California. Cancer anthonyi FIGURE 6 Yellow crab, Cancer anthonyi. Top and bottom views of a male crab, 6 inches across the back. Distinguishing Characters: Black-tipped pincers on the claws.

The hands of the claws are large and quite smooth, resembling the rock crab in this respect. In fact, all of the legs of the yellow crab are quite smooth. The last five joints of the walking legs lack hair except for very short bristles on the end joints. These bristles may become indistinguishable to the unaided eye, on the last pair of legs. The tip of the last segment of the tail flap is pointed in both male and female, as for all other crabs described except the Dungeness crab. Color: Yellow-brown, with a purple wash anteriorly and on the legs in some specimens. Underparts plain yellow or yellowish white. Size: Attains a width of 7 inches across the back. Distribution: Humboldt Bay to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, but generally uncommon north of Point Conception. Crab Fishing Gear FIGURE 7 A crab trap of stainless steel wire woven about a welded iron frame. Note the circular openings to allow escape of undersized crabs FIGURE 8 Crab hoop net. (A) the trap extended as it is while being hauled to the surface. (B) the trap as it is when on the bottom of the ocean.

Some commercial crab anglers prefer to build their own crab traps (pots), although several Pacific coast companies manufacture these traps. A circular pot (Figure 7) 42 inches in diameter, 14 inches deep, and weighing 90 pounds could be purchased in 1971 for about $32. Completely equipped with line, buoys, and bait container, each unit represented an investment, at that time, of about $42. The 1986 respective prices for a trap and one rigged for fishing are $60 and $80. The crab ring or hoop net (Figure 8) is used by California anglers and a few commercials. This unit consists of coarse mesh webbing attached to two iron hoops. When the trap is on the bottom, crabs are attracted to the center of the net by bait held in a small receptacle. Periodically, the net is hauled to the surface quickly thereby capturing any crabs in the net. Hipkins, Fred W. 1972. Dungeness crab pots. Fishery Facts-3, NMFS Extension pub.,:l-13. Jow, Tom. 1961.

Crab trap escape opening studies. Pac-Mar Fish. Bull. (5):117-150. Phillips, J. B. 1939. The market crab of California and its close relatives. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 25 (1) :18-29. Rathbun, Mary J. 1930. The cancroid crabs of America of the families Euryalidae, Portunidae, Atelecyclidae, Cancridae and Xanthidae. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull., (152) :1-609. Schmitt, Waldo L. 1921. The marine decapod crustacea of California. Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., 23:1-470. Waldron, Kenneth D. 1958. The fishery and biology of the Dungeness crab (Cancer magister Dana) in Oregon waters. Oregon Fish Comm., Contrib., (24) :1-43. Wild, Paul W. and Robert N. Tasto (eds.) 1983.

Life history, environment, and mariculture studies of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, with emphasis on the central California fishery resource. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish Bull., (172) :1-352. Dungeness Crab Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Alaska Department of Fish and Game Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister/ syn. Metacarcinus magister) Species Profile View Large Map Did You Know? Female Dungeness crab in Alaskan waters starve themselves during the six or more months during which they carry eggs. Perhaps because of this extended starvation period, Dungeness in Alaska produce eggs only every other year. Fast Facts General Description The Dungeness crab, Cancer magister/ syn. Metacarcinus magister, inhabits bays, estuaries, and the nearshore coast of Alaska. The species is named after one of its representative habitats––a shallow, sandy bay inside of Dungeness Spit on the south shore of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. It is widely distributed, and can be found as far north as the Aleutian Islands and as far south as Magdalena Bay, Mexico.

This crab supports commercial personal use and sport fisheries in Alaska. The Dungeness crab is a decapod, related to shrimp, lobster, and other crab. It has a broad, oval body covered by a hard chitinous shell, four pairs of walking legs and a pair of claws. This species can be distinguished from other commercially important crab (king and Tanner crab) because its legs are much smaller and shorter in relation to its body size and because the dorsal surface of its carapace is smooth and spineless. Size and Sex Determination The legal measurement for Dungeness crab in Alaska is shoulder width, measured across the back of the carapace between the two notches immediately anterior to the tenth anterolateral spine, also known as "notch to notch". Only male Dungeness crab may be taken and sex can be determined from the shape of the crab’s abdomen. Females have a slightly rounded abdomen while males have a triangle-shaped abdomen. This becomes very pronounced when females mature into their egg-bearing developmental stage but is slightly less obvious for younger stages. The legal size for Dungeness crab in Alaska is 6.5 inches notch to notch.

Similar Species There are eight congeners (same genus) to the Dungeness crab. Several of these, the European edible crab, Cancer pagurus, Jonah crab, Cancer borealis, and Atlantic rock crab, Cancer irroratus, are commercially harvested. The red rock crab, Cancer productus, is harvested by sport fishermen in Oregon. Life History Growth and Reproduction Dungeness crab mate from spring through fall. Males are polygamous––each male crab may mate with more than one female. This may be an important factor in maintaining the reproductive viability of this species because only male crab can be harvested. Male crab only mate with female crab that have just molted (shed their old exoskeleton). Fertilization of eggs occurs about a month after mating when the female’s shell has hardened; until this time, the female crab stores the sperm in internal pouches especially designed for this purpose. Females can store sperm for as long as 2 years and old, large females will often use stored sperm to fertilize their eggs rather than molting and mating.

The female extrudes eggs through pores on her ventral surface; they are fertilized as they pass through the stored sperm and adhere to hairs on the abdominal appendages where they are carried until hatching. A large female Dungeness crab can carry 2.5 million eggs. After hatching, crab zoea larvae are planktonic and swim away freely. Larval development takes from 4 months to as long as a year in Alaska. Six successive larval stages (5 zoea and 1 megalopa) occur before the crab molts into the first juvenile stage. Crabs grow each time they molt. During the first two years both sexes grow at similar rates, but after two years males grow more quickly than females. Sexual maturity may be reached at three years. The legal size of 6.5 inches in shell width can be reached at four to five years of age, at which time the crab will weigh between 2 and 3 pounds. A large male Dungeness crab can exceed 10 inches in shell width. The estimated maximum life span is from 8 to 13 years. Dungeness crab are widely distributed subtidally and prefer a sandy or muddy bottom in marine waters.

However, they are tolerant of salinity changes and can be found in estuarine environments. They are most abundant in waters shallower than 30 meters, but have been found as deep as 200 meters. Feeding Ecology Dungeness crab foraging behavior coincides with their habitat. These crab scavenge along the sea floor for organisms that live partly or completely buried in the sand. They are both scavengers and predators, and their diet can include bivalves, worms, shrimp, fish, and small crab. Range and Habitat Dungeness crab are distributed from the Aleutian Islands to Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Status, Trends, and Threats Status Commercial fisheries for Dungeness crab are currently prosecuted in waters offshore Kodiak Island and in Southeast Alaska. Trends Historical harvest of Dungeness crab in Alaskan waters peaked at 15.79 million pounds in 1982.

The long-term average harvest for 1966–2011calendar years is 6.48 million pounds, and the 40, 30, 20, and 10-year averages are 6.47, 6.98, 5.49, and 5.31 million pounds respectively. Threats The primary threats to this species include predation by sea otters, ocean acidification, habitat damage (from activities such as log transfer facilities and intertidal development), and overfishing. Fast Facts Size A legal-sized male Dungeness crab is 6 ½ inches in carapace width (shoulder width) and weighs approximately 2 pounds. Range Crab Species Index Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: Thin orange bands on hairy legs. Small eyes Comments: I often note the spindly Bering hermit when diving Puget Sound. It is probably the second most common hermit I note, the blackeye hermit being at the top of the list. Although both species have orange marking on their legs, the tiny eyes of the Bering hermit make it easily identifiable.

Blackeye Hermit Pagurus armatus Typical size: 1-2ï¿½ across carapace ID: Large oval black eyes. Usually makes use of abandoned moon snail shells. White and orange markings on legs. Comments: I note the blackeye hermit more than any other hermit in Washington waters. This hermit can grow quite large. I oten find the blackeye hermit amongst eelgrass and kelp beds on soft substates. I have never noted a blackeye hermit in anything but an abandonned moon snail shell. Butterfly Crab Cryptolithodes typicus Typical size: 1-3ï¿½ across carapace ID: Uniquely shaped shell. Coloration varies greatly. Rostrum (nose portion of the shell) does not flare at the end. Comment: I often note the elusive butterfy crab when diving the San Juan Islands, and seldom anywhere else. This crab is often mistaken for an umbrella crab, which was a flaiedr rostrum. This picture was taken at Cone Island in the San Juans.

Dungeness Crab Typical size: 4-8ï¿½ across carapace ID: Purplish-brown carapace, pinchers predominately white with several rows of rough protrusions along top edge. Comments: The highly prized dungeness crab is a common inhabitant of sandy substrates throughout the Northwest. Dungensess crabs molt in summer. I have witness massive motling events involving thousands of male dungeness crabs in the Cape Flattery area. And yes, these crabs can pitch very hard. Graceful Crab Typical size: 3-4ï¿½ across carapace ID: Teeth along front of carapace lined in white. Smooth pinchers with white tips. Comments: I only occasionally note the graceful crab as it prefers shallow and soft substrates. The shallows at Three Tree Point are a good place to encounter this species. The graceful crab is very similar in appearance to the Dungeness crab, however it is much smaller and lacks the ï¿½teethï¿½ along the edge of the pinchers. Northern Kelp Crab Typical size: 1-3ï¿½ across carapace ID: Smooth carapace top.

Brown, brown-yellow, or dark red carapace. Yellow or bright red underside. Comments: I can't remember the last dive that I didn't note the seemingly ever-present northern kelp crab. These crabs tend to take on a color that best matches the regional kelp and can range in color from yellow-brown to deep red. I note these crabs on piling, reefs, wrecks, or anywhere kelp thrives. Heart Crab Phyllolithodes papillosus Typical size: 1-2ï¿½ across carapace ID: Spiny legs. Triangular carapace. Top of the carapace sports a raised outline in the shape of a heart. Comments: With its thick bristling legs and mottled carapace, I am sure I often overlook the well camouflaged heart crab unless it moves. My best luck for finding this species is in the San Juan Islands,but I have noted it inhabiting rocky reefs throughout Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Orange Hairy Hermit Paguristes turgidus Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: Orange colored body, very small eyes, and long dark hair-like strands emanating from legs and claws.

Comments: I have only noted this species once - at Three Tree Point in about 40 feet of water. This hermit tends to favor discarded shells from Oregon tritons. Pygmy Rock Crab Typical size: 1-2ï¿½ across carapace ID: Rounded shell. Shell color varies and includes reds, browns, and whites. Black pincher tips. Comments: The pygmy rock crab is actually a common inhabitant of our Northwest reefs, but usually goes unnoticed. In addition to being relatively small and well camouflaged, it seems to prefer to hide inside abandonned giant barnacle shells. Puget Sound King Crab Lopholithodes mandtii Typical size: 2-12ï¿½ across carapace ID: Large, pronounced bumps on carapace top. Adults are predominately orange or orange/red with a mix of white, yellow and purple markings. Juveniles are often a red and/or orange. Comments: The rugged looking Puget Sound king crab is the largest crab in Northwest waters. I commonly note this species in the San Juan Island, and less often in the Cape Flattery area.

I have only seen one of these crabs in Puget Sound - a juvenile at Possession Point. Red Rock Crab Juvenile Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: White carapace, sometimes with designs. Black pinchers. Carapace broad and not deep. Comments: The bland color of the juvenile red rock crabs sometimes makes it difficult to find. This youngster already has characteristics of its adult form - specifically the carapace shape and black pincher ends. Photographed at China Wall on the west side of Blakely Rock in Puget Sound. Spiny Lithoid Crab Typical size: 1-4ï¿½ across carapace ID: Spiny arms and carapace, banded red, brown, and white legs. Comments: I have only noted this unusual crab at Pulali Wall in Hood Canal. The spiny lithoid crab could just as easily be named the porcupine crab. Sharpnose Crab Scyra acutifrons Typical size: 1-1.5ï¿½ across carapace ID: Unusual shovel-like ï¿½noseï¿½, relatively short legs, large orange pinchers. Typically covered in sponges.

Comments: The sharpnose crab is easily distinguished by its unique wide rostrum (nose, if you will). This crab is often hard to detect as it is usually covered in small invertebrates. There is nothing like t ravelling with friends. Widehand Hermit Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: Blue coloration at base of legs, oversized flat right claw. Comments: I often note the distinctive widehand hermit when diving reefs throughout the Northwest. This crab will use a number of differnt species of snail shell for its condo, including purple ringtop snail shells. Unlike the blackeye hermit, this crab has beady little yellow eye. Helmet Crab Typical size: 2-3ï¿½ across carapace ID: Yellow colored body and legs. 12 teeth across carapase. Hairy legs. Comments: My observations are the helmet crab is very skittish and prefesr to stay hidden amongst think groves of kelp. I only note this crab in late spring, summer, and fall months. It may retreat to deeper water during the winter.

Puget Sound King Crab - Juvenile Lopholithodes mandtii Typical size: 2-3ï¿½ across carapace ID: Very large peaks across carapace. Bright orange and red color with blue spots. Comments: I see about as many juvenile Puget Sound kings crabs as I do adults. These crabs are often well camouflaged when they remain stationary amongst a background of colorful invertebrates. Maroon Hermit Typical size: 0.5-1" across carapace ID: Distinctive orange body with small yellow eyes. Comments: This brightly colored crab is fairly common in the San Juan Islands. It's solid orange body makes it hard to confuse with any other species. This photo was taken on Long Island West Wall. Although this little guy is in a blue ringtop snail shell, maroon hermits often occupy purple ringtop snail shells. Graceful Decorator Crab Oregonia gracilis Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: Long and slender walking legs. Triangular carapace with two long and parallel horns that are close together. Comments: Can you find the crab in this photo?

The most accomplished of the decorators, this crab is often covered with local representative invertebrate species to the point that it is indistinguishable. I often find this prolific dresser throughout Washington waters. Photo take at Tatoosh Island in the Cape Flattery area. Moss Crab Typical size: 2" across carapace ID: Triangular carapace heavily encrusted with sponge. Thick walked legs. Comments: I believe this crab is a moss crab, which can reported grow to a 5" across the carapace. I have only rarely noted this species when diving the Cape Flattery area. Graceful Kelp Crab Pugettia gracilis Typical size: 1-1.5ï¿½ across carapace ID: Blue pinchers with orange tips. Bumps on carapace, but no spines. Broad "hook" on first carapace tooth on either side. Medium length horns that have significant space between them and slightly diverge. Comments: This crab does decorate, but unlike the graceful decorator crab, it tends to keep the decoration simple and only decorate its rostrum. Also not the blue pincher tipped with orange. Photo taken at KVI Tower Reef in Puget Sound.

Longhorn Decorator Crab Chorilia longipes Typical size: 1-2ï¿½ across carapace ID: Orange colored body, with two long and parallel horns. Carapace has small spines. Long walking legs. Comments: This little crab is a relatively modest decorator. I often note this crab while diving Hood Canal. Photo taken at Flagpole Point. Golf-ball Crab Typical size: 1-2ï¿½ across carapace ID: Triangular carapace with golf-ball like protrusion. Legs covered in brown hair. Comments: I only occasionally find this unusual lithoid crab - probably because it is very well camouflaged unless it moves. This photo was taken on a deep wall in 105 feet of water at Pile Point. This crab is also referred to as a rhinosaurus crab. Puget Sound King Crab - Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: Very large peaks across carapace. Solid bright orange color. Comments: I often spot these young crabs with my HID light as the bright orange really sticks out against most backgrounds. Withough white light, the orange color turns grey and the crab blends in with the background.

Photo taken at Edmonds Underwater Park - believe it or not! Scaled Crab Placetron wosnessenskii Typical size: 2ï¿½ across carapace ID: Distinctive trapezoid shaped carapace and long, slender pinchers. Top of carapace, legs, and pinchers covered in scales. Comments: I only regularly note adult versions of this unique crab when diving Pulali Point in Hood Canal, which is where this photo was taken. Umbrella Crab Typical size: 1-3ï¿½ across carapace ID: Unique carpace wtih flared rostrum. Coloration varies. Comments: This little crab only live in coastal waters. Thanks to Andy Lamb for finding this little umbrella crab in Barkley Sound underneath a colony of orange social ascidians, which explains the bright orange color. Red Rock Crab Typical size: 4-6ï¿½ across carapace ID: Red to purple carapace, legs and pinchers. Pinchers are tipped in black. Comments: I commonly note the red rock crab on reefs and soft substrates throughout Washington waters.

Like the Dungeness crab, the red rock crab often buries itself in the sand for camoufalge. If you are ever have a finger pinched on land by a red rock crab, lift your hand up as the red rock crab's arm can't support its weight when out of the water. Be warned - this crab can pinch very hard. Flattop Crab Typical size: 0.5" across carapace ID: Large, flat pinchers. Blue thumb-joints. Comments: You have to turn over some rocks if you want to find this little crab. The blue joint where the thumb meets the rest of the pincher makes this an easy ID as a flattop crab. Getting this little crab to hold still for a picture is almost impossible as they are hell-bent on finding a rock to hide under. Photographed in the shallows at Browning Wall in unbelievable Browning Pass, BC. Green Shore Crab Typical size: 1ï¿½ across carapace ID: Typically green body with white tipped pinchers. Tiny hairs on legs. Comments: A common crab found by beachcombers who turn over rocks. When exposed, this little crab often scampers and hides under the closest rock.

The crab in this picture has given up on fleeing and assumed a defensive position. Photographed on Hurst Island, British Columbia. Purple Shore Crab Hemigrapsus nudus Typical size: 0.5-1" across carapace ID: Coloration can vary, but typically purple body and legs with yellow blotches. No hair on legs. Comments: It is often difficult to avid this species when turning over rocks on a rocky shoreline. This species is seldom seen by divers, but is a common encounter for beachcombers. Photographed at God's Pocket on Hust Island, British Columbia. Greenmark Hermit Typical size: 0.5" across carapace ID: White banded legs and unbanded orange antenna. Comments: You need to loock very carefully to distinguish this little hermit. Andy Lamb found this hermit while we were diving Norway Island in the Canadian Guld Islands. Black Claw Crab Lophopanopeus bellus Typical size: 0.75ï¿½ across carapace ID: Three grooves outside either eye. Differentiated from the purple shore crab by the small hairs on legs and carapace. High variation of dark colors.

Comments: These little crabs often make themselves scarce as they like to hide under rocks or other cover. This specimen was uncovered in 25 feet of water at the KVI Tower dive site off Vashon Island in Puget Sound. Hey - how can this be a black claw crab as it has purple claws? Invertebrates of Interest: Crabs Invertebrates of Interest: Crabs Links to the Latest Information Please access one of the following sources for up-to-date information concerning crab season dates and related information: Call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883 for up-to-date information about the Dungeness crab and Rock crab seasons. Call the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Shellfish Biotoxin Information line at: (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133 for updated crab consumption advisories, or visit the CDFW Finfish and Shellfish Health Advisories web page. Visit the CDPH Domoic Acid web page for the latest crab test analyses and results.

Sign up for the CDFW Marine Region News Service to receive the latest information about the crab seasons. Check the Marine Region News Room for press releases with information about the crab seasons. Call or drop by your local Marine Region CDFW office for the latest information before heading out on a crabbing trip. Common Spider Crab - Chesapeake Bay Program Chesapeake Bay Program Common Spider Crab Libinia emarginata The shell of the common spider crab measures about four inches from front to back. When its legs are stretched out, the spider crab can reach a spread of one foot. (joo0ey/Flickr) Also known as the portly spider crab or the nine-spined spider crab, the common spider crab is a long-legged and slow-moving crustacean that covers itself in algae and small debris as a defense against predators. Appearance: The common spider crab has a khaki-colored, triangle-shaped carapace (shell) that measure about four inches front to back and features a median row of nine low spines (which differentiate the creature from the six-spined spider crab). Its shell is often ornamented with various spines and tubercles and clothed in algae, debris and small invertebrates held in place by hook-like hairs.

When its legs are outstretched, the common spider crab can reach a spread of up to one foot, while males grow larger than females. The crab has white, narrow claws that are slow and not very strong, and has a tapered snout and short eyestalks. Habitat: Found on a variety of ocean, bay or harbor bottoms, from shallow water to depths exceeding 150 feet. Range: Found from Nova Scotia to the western Gulf of Mexico; inhabits the brackish and salty waters of the Chesapeake Bay from Washington, D.C., to the Bay's mouth. Feeding: These crabs are sluggish and unaggressive scavengers with poor eyesight. Sensitive tasting and sensing organs located on the tips of its walking legs allow the common spider crab to identify food in the water or mud as it walks. It will often feed on large starfish. Predators: Spider crabs belong to a group known as "decorator crabs": the crab's main defense against predation is ability to camouflage itself with various spines and tubercles, algae, debris and small invertebrates. When startled, it will wave its pincers over its head in a warning gesture.

Reproduction and Life Cycle: The common spider crab must molt to grow. When molting, this crab clings to top of eelgrass close to water's surface. They have been observed molting in large "pods" in the fall, hibernating in dense patches in the winter and mating in large groups in the spring. Females close to releasing eggs are held behind males and aggressively protected. Young hatch from eggs that are bright orange-red when laid but turn brown during development, which takes about 25 days. Other Facts: Spider crabs are tolerant of polluted waters and eutrophic, or low-oxygen, environments. They often walk in a forward motion, although they are capable of side-stepping like other crabs. Sources and Additional Information:

Question: Dungeness, King, and Spider are types of what?
Answer: Crabs