Dungeness crab

The Dungeness crab is a type of crab that inhabits eel-grass beds and water bottoms from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to Santa Cruz, California. They are named after Dungeness, Washington , a town now known as Old Town, Washington or Old Town Dungeness, Washington , which is located approximately five miles north of Sequim.

They measure 10 inches (25.4 cm) in some areas off the coast of Washington, but typically are under 8 inches (20.3 cm). They are a popular delicacy, and are the most commercially important crab in Washington's territorial waters.

Dungeness crabs have a wide, hard shell which they must split in order to grow, this process is called moulting. They also have five pairs of legs, which are similarly armoured, the foremost pair of which end in claws which the crab uses both as defence and to tear apart large food items. The crab uses its smaller appendages to pass the food particles into its mouth. Once inside the crab’s stomach, food is further digested by the "gastric mill ", a collection of tooth-like structures. Cancer magister prefers to eat clams, other crustaceans and small fish, but is also an effective scavenger.

Mating occurs between male and female crabs only after the female has moulted, and the female extrudes the eggs from her body several months later, however, they remain attached under her abdomen for three to five months until they hatch. Young crab are free-swimming after hatching and go through five larval stages before reaching maturity, after about 10 moults or two years.

Although crabs are traditionally associated with moving sideways, they can use their appendages to move in any direction. Dungeness crabs can also bury themselves in the sand completely if threatened.