Metacarcinus Magister (Dungeness Crab)

Description:

• Typically 20 cm in length, and 25 cm in width.
• Have wide, long, hard shells.
• Bilateral Symmetry
• Have five pairs of legs, the foremost pair ends in claws.
• Exoskeleton

Taxonomy:

• Animalia
• Arthropoda
• Malacostraca
• Decapoda
• Cancridae
• Metacarcinus
• M. Magister

Ecology/ Features:

• Males are attracted to females through pheromones present in the urine of the female.
• The Dungeness crab is named after Dungeness, Washington.
• Usually found along the Pacific Rim.
• They prefer to eat clams and small fish.
• They can bury themselves completely in the sand if threatened.
• Mating occurs immediately after the female has moulted and before the new exoskeleton hardens.