Dungeness crab
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Infraorder: Brachyura Family: Cancridae Genus: Cancer Species: C. magister
Binomial name
Cancer magister Dana, 1852

The Dungeness crab is a species of crab that inhabits eelgrass beds and water bottoms from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to Santa Cruz, California ^[1]. Its binomial name, Cancer magister, simply means "master crab" in Latin. Download high resolution version (1796x1192, 1630 KB)Plate 261. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... // Subclasses Eumalacostraca Hoplocarida Phyllocarida See text for orders. ... Suborders Dendrobranchiata Pleocyemata See text for superfamilies. ... For other uses, see Crab (disambiguation). ... Genera See text Cancridae is a family of rock crabs. ... Species See text. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... James Dwight Dana (February 12, 1813 - April 14, 1895) was an American geologist, mineralogist and zoologist. ... For other uses, see Crab (disambiguation). ... Eelgrass can refer to two different plants: Marine eelgrass - Zostera marina Freshwater eelgrass - Vallisneria americana This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Aleutians seen from space The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, island) are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 6,821 sq mi (17,666 km²) and extending about 1,200 mi (1,900... For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Santa Cruz. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ...

They measure as much as 25 cm (10 inches) in some areas off the coast of Washington, but typically are under 20 cm (8 inches).^[2] They are a popular delicacy, and are the most commercially important crab in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the western states generally  ^[3]. A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For the capital city of the United States, see Washington, D.C.. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation). ... The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ...

A Dungeness crab measuring 7 inches

Dungeness crabs have a wide, hard shell which they must split in order to grow; this process is called ecdysis. They have five pairs of legs, which are similarly armored, the foremost pair of which ends in claws which the crab uses both as defense 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. Dungeness crabs can also bury themselves completely in the sand if threatened. The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups. ... Ecdysis is the molting of the cuticula in arthropods and related groups (Ecdysozoa). ... Cat claw A claw is a curved pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger or, in arthropods, of the tarsus. ... Gastric mill is a part of the digestive tract of crustaceans. ... For other uses, see Clam (disambiguation). ... Classes Remipedia Cephalocarida Branchiopoda Ostracoda Maxillopoda Malacostraca The crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods (55,000 species), usually treated as a subphylum. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... For a person who scavenges, see Waste picker. ...

Males are attracted to potential mates by pheromones present in the urine of female Dungeness crabs. Upon locating an available female, the male initiates a protective pre-mating embrace that lasts for several days. In this embrace, the female is tucked underneath the male, oriented such that their abdomens touch and their heads face each other. Mating occurs only after the female has molted, and the female signals her readiness to molt by urinating on or near the antennae of the male. 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 crabs are free-swimming after hatching and go through five larval stages before reaching maturity after about ten moults or two years. Ecdysis is the molting of the cuticula in arthropods and related groups (Ecdysozoa). ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... For the human abdomen, see human abdomen. ... A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ...

Close-up of the face

The safest place to hold the Dungeness crab is its back. Although the hind part of the crab is commonly used to pick up the crab, their claws can sometimes reach the holder's hand.

They are named after Dungeness, Washington ^[1], which is located approximately five miles north of Sequim and 15 miles east of Port Angeles. The annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival ^[4] is held in Port Angeles each October. Dungeness is an unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, USA. Located north of Sequim, Dungeness crab is named after the town of Dungeness, which is located on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. ... Sequim is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. ... Early morning photograph from the pier tower Port Angeles is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. ...

Dungeness crab have been found in the Atlantic Ocean, raising concern about their possible effects on the local wildlife ^[5].

Cookery

Dungeness crabs can typically be purchased either live or pre-cooked. Larger crabs are valued for the higher meat to shell ratio. Live crabs are cooked simply by steaming for 15–18 min, or boiling for approximately 10 min in water. Beer, crab boil spices, or other flavorings can also be added to the water if desired A minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour and to 60 seconds. ... For other uses, see Beer (disambiguation). ...

Dungeness crab ready to eat at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco

Like all crabs, the Dungeness crab is high in protein and minerals and low in fat. About one quarter of this crab's weight is meat, making it one of the meatiest crabs available. Most of the meat is in the eight legs and two claws, although the body contains plenty as well. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 143 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 143 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Fishermans Wharf sign Aerial view of Fishermans Wharf Fishermans Wharf is a neighborhood and popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, California, U.S. It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Street east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street. ... San Francisco redirects here. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin showing coloured alpha helices. ... For other uses, see Mineral (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see FAT. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. ...

The flesh has what is considered to be a delicate flavor that is slightly sweet.

The two most useful tools for removing crab meat from the shell are a nutcracker and a shrimp fork. Sometimes, a cleaver, mallet or small hammer are used for cracking.^[6] Experienced eaters use one of the crab's own pointy "toes" to dig out the meat. Many Alaskans and coastal people use only their bare hands in order to break the shell and extract the meat, all the while being entertained with the equipment and "techniques" other people use in order to retrieve the flesh from the crab. Melted butter with garlic is sometimes used as a dipping sauce when eating the meat of the Dungeness crab. Regular melted butter and cocktail sauce or Thousand Island dressing are also popular. This article is about the tool for cracking nuts. ... Assorted forks. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Dungeness Crab. Dungeness community website. Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
2. ^ Crabs are measured across the widest part of their back, excluding the legs. See, e.g., 2006-2007 Fishing in Washington Rule Pamphlet (pdf), p. 130.
3. ^ Species Fact Sheet. Cancer magister Dana, 1852. FAO (2004-01-22).
4. ^ Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival.
5. ^ Andrea Cohen. "Crab nabbed; circumstances fishy", MIT News Office, 2006-08-09. 
6. ^ Online video teaching how to crack and clean Dungeness crab.