Cancer gracilis

The Graceful Crab

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocymata
Infraorder Brachyura
Family Cancridae
Genus Cancer
Species gracilis

Description: Size up to 11.5 cm but usually does not exceed 7 cm; color ranging from grayish brown to brownish red; upper surface of carapace smooth; claws have white tips with no serrations on upper margin; white edging around carapace teeth; legs are slender and purple in color; widest at ninth tooth on carapace.

Habitat: Found on muddy or sandy substrate; primarily occurs subtidally.

Natural History: Feeds mainly on barnacles and small bivalves. It is common to see C. gracilis larvae and small juveniles clinging to large jellyfish for transportation to nearshore areas. Often mistaken for Cancer magister, the Dungeness Crab.