Cancer productus

The Red Rock Crab

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

Description: Can be up to 20 cm, although they are rarely larger than 15 cm; carapace usually a reddish color in adults, color of juveniles is highly variable often with a ÒzebraÓ pattern; claws are large with black tips; teeth are broad and rounded with the eighth and nineth tooth of carapace about the same width.

Habitat: Found on sandy, gravelly and muddy bays.

Natural History: It is a very voracious hunter that feeds both on live and dead organic matter. It has powerful claws that can open clams, mussels, snails and barnacles. It also uses its claws to catch smaller crabs.