Head to head
Edible Crab vs Dungeness Crab
Edible Crab
VS Dungeness Crab
The edible crab of Europe and the Dungeness crab of the Pacific coast of North America are two large crabs that support some of the most important crab fisheries in the world.
| Edible Crab | Dungeness Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Cancer pagurus | Metacarcinus magister |
| Shell | A broad, reddish-brown shell with a scalloped pie-crust edge, and black-tipped claws | A notably broad, oval carapace, suited to life foraging over sandy and muddy seafloor |
| Diet | A carnivore eating mussels, whelks, other molluscs, and smaller crabs | An omnivore eating small clams, worms, other invertebrates, fish, and organic debris |
| Habitat | Rocky seabeds and sandy areas, with young crabs in rock pools | Sandy or muddy seafloor in bays and nearshore waters |
| Range | The northeast Atlantic, from Norway and the North Sea south to Morocco | The Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska south through California |
| Fishery | Caught in pots in large numbers, and one of the most important crab fisheries in Europe | Supports one of the most economically significant crab fisheries on the Pacific coast, managed by size, sex, and season rules |
| Life history | Egg-carrying females travel long distances offshore to deeper water | Must periodically moult, and is vulnerable while the new shell hardens, and is a food source for fish, octopuses, and diving seabirds |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated globally, though widespread and commercially fished | Least Concern |
Edible Crab vs Dungeness Crab: common questions
Which crab lives on the Pacific coast?
The Dungeness crab, which lives along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska south through California.
Which one has a pie-crust shell edge?
The edible crab, whose broad, reddish-brown shell has a scalloped edge like the crimped edge of a pie crust.
Why are both fisheries managed?
Fishing rules, such as minimum size and season limits, help to protect breeding crabs and allow young crabs to grow.