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Science & Nature • Marine Life

Dungeness Crab

The Dungeness crab is a large edible crab native to the North Pacific, especially along the west coast of North America.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Dungeness crab is a large edible crab native to the North Pacific, especially along the west coast of North America. It is an important commercial, recreational, and cultural seafood species, and is commonly associated with sandy or muddy seafloor habitats and eelgrass beds. In Canada, it is an important species for the Pacific coast, especially British Columbia, supporting commercial, recreational, and seafood markets.

Taxonomy and naming

The Dungeness crab is a decapod crustacean in the family Cancridae. It is currently known scientifically as Metacarcinus magister, and was formerly listed as Cancer magister. The common name comes from Dungeness Spit in Washington, a representative habitat for the species.

Description

Dungeness crabs have broad oval bodies, hard shells, and a purple-hued to grayish-brown coloration. Adults can reach about 10 inches across the carapace, and the claws are often tipped in white.

Habitat and range

The Dungeness crab inhabits sandy or muddy seafloor areas, eelgrass beds, bays, estuaries, and nearshore waters. Its natural range spans the North Pacific coast from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska through the west coast of the United States into Mexico.

Ecology and diet

Dungeness crabs are bottom-dwelling scavengers and predators. They feed on organisms such as crustaceans, bivalves, worms, and small fish.

Fishery importance

Dungeness crab is one of the most commercially important crabs on the Pacific coast of North America. It supports commercial, recreational, and personal-use fisheries, and is especially important to coastal communities in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In Canada, it is an important species for the Pacific coast, especially British Columbia, supporting commercial, recreational, and seafood markets.

Key facts

  • It is one of the most commercially important crabs on the Pacific coast of North America.
  • Its range extends from Alaska to Mexico, with strong populations in the Pacific Northwest.
  • It lives on or near the seafloor in bays, estuaries, and sandy or muddy habitats.
  • Its diet includes crustaceans, bivalves, worms, and fish.
  • The species supports fisheries in both Canada and the United States.
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Canadian context

Dungeness crab is an important species for Canada’s Pacific coast, especially British Columbia, where it supports commercial, recreational, and seafood markets and is part of coastal marine ecosystems.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Dungeness crab?
A Dungeness crab is a large edible crab species native to the North Pacific, especially the west coast of North America.
What is the scientific name of Dungeness crab?
Its accepted scientific name is Metacarcinus magister; it was formerly called Cancer magister.
Where do Dungeness crabs live?
They live in sandy or muddy coastal habitats, including bays, estuaries, nearshore waters, and eelgrass beds.
How big do Dungeness crabs get?
They can reach about 10 inches across the shell, though many are smaller.
Why are they called Dungeness crab?
The name comes from Dungeness Spit in Washington, a representative habitat for the species.
Are Dungeness crabs important to Canada?
Yes. They are part of west coast fisheries that include British Columbia and other Canadian Pacific coastal waters.

References

  1. Ocean Conservancy — https://oceanconservancy.org/wildlife-library/dungeness-crab/
    Supports: Range, habitat, size, diet, and fishery importance.
  2. Alaska Department of Fish and Game — https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=dungenesscrab.main
    Supports: Scientific name, habitat, range, morphology, and fishery relevance.
  3. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/basics/crab
    Supports: Identification, range, habitat, and shell coloration.
  4. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/articles/glba-dungeness-crabs.htm
    Supports: Coloration, size, lifespan, and naming origin.
  5. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/Dungeness-crab
    Supports: Species identity, range, and commercial importance.