The Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) holds the record for being the most popular and tasty seafood in the family Cancridae and in communities living close to the port of Dungeness in Washington state. The crab bears a wide, long, hard shell that it molts periodically to grow. The belly is yellowish and the dorsal surface reddish-brown but lighter on its posterior. As an opportunistic feeder, it has evolved to feeding in sandy habitats on the bottom of the Western Pacific coast. Since it is a decapod, its body is broad, oval, composed of a chitinous shell, and with five pairs of armored legs.
The Dungeness Crab has a carapace length between 3.9”-6.5” (10-16.5 cm), carapace width of 5.9”-9.8” (15-25 cm), body height of 2.1”-3.5” (5.4-8.9 cm), and weight between 2-4.4 lb (.9-2 kg). The typical lifespan of the Dungeness Crab is between 8-13 years.
The Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) holds the record for being the most popular and tasty seafood in the family Cancridae and in communities living close to the port of Dungeness in Washington state. The crab bears a wide, long, hard shell that it molts periodically to grow. The belly is yellowish and the dorsal surface reddish-brown but lighter on its posterior. As an opportunistic feeder, it has evolved to feeding in sandy habitats on the bottom of the Western Pacific coast. Since it is a decapod, its body is broad, oval, composed of a chitinous shell, and with five pairs of armored legs.
The Dungeness Crab has a carapace length between 3.9”-6.5” (10-16.5 cm), carapace width of 5.9”-9.8” (15-25 cm), body height of 2.1”-3.5” (5.4-8.9 cm), and weight between 2-4.4 lb (.9-2 kg). The typical lifespan of the Dungeness Crab is between 8-13 years.
