Oregon bay crab identification * Commonly harvested bay crabs Other native crabs found in crab gear Dungeness crab Red rock crab Pacific rock crab Northern kelp crab Cancer magister Cancer productus Cancer antennarius Pugettia producta

• Most legal size Dungeness crabs are 4 years old. • Red rock crabs are NATIVE to Oregon. • Also known as Brown or Spot-bellied crab. • A large spider crab often found in estuaries near • The most common and valuable crab of Oregon estuaries. • Often found near rocks and other structure. • More common in ocean than in estuaries. pilings, rocks, and other structure.

Identification: Identification: Identification: Identification: • Dungeness crabs have white-tipped claws and 10 spines on each side of carapace. • Red rock crabs have black-tipped claws. • Similar and closely related to red rock crab, but • Long legs and shield shaped carapace. • Dungeness are typically brown to purple; however, llike other crabs, color can be variable. • Carapace is fan shaped. more brown in color, with spots covering • Disproportionately large claws in mature males. • Abdominal flap of males is long and narrow, in females it is short and rounded. underside, and with more hair on legs. • Color can vary from green to brown to red, Black tipped claws • Antennae much larger than in red rock crab. underside generally has some deep red color. Male

 • Can grow very large.

White tipped claws Long antennae 

4' /

b Female

size 3-5” -I- - -U' • Pacific rock crabs • Color and patterns have heavily spotted frd are extremely undersides and variable for very small hairy legs. t-- (< 2”) juvenile red rock size 4-7” crabs. size 3-5” size 2-4” Other native bay crabs Non-native crabs**

Slender crab Cancer gracilis Pygmy rock crab Graceful kelp crab Pea crab Green crab Carcinus maenas Cancer oregonensis Pugettia gracilis Pinnixa sp. • Native to Europe. 3 bumps • Similar to Dungeness, but with no spines on upper claw, • Occasionally found in Oregon estuaries. th • Also known as Oregon • Several species between eyes and is widest at 9 spine. • A small spider crab • Young Dungeness and shore crabs • Far less common than Dungeness crab. cancer crab. occassionally found crawling exist in Oregon, and are often misidentified as green crab 5 carapace • Often found near docks on crab gear. can be found inside smooth upper claw due to color similarities. .').: spines and rocky intertidal areas. • Claw tips are usually a variety of bivalves • Round carapace, hairy such as gaper clams. orange. Identification: 0 legs, and black tipped claws. Male • 5 spines on each side of carapace. • 3 bumps between eyes. th spine -s- - 10 • Color most often dark green. size 1½-3” - posterior to w widest point Harris mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrissii Female • Native to southeast coast of North America. I • Found in brackish waters of large estuarine systems. 9th Identification: 10th • Unequal size claws characteristic of this species. size 2-4” size 1-2” size ¾-1½” size ¼-¾” size ½-1” • 4 spines on each side of carapace, no notch between eyes. Purple shore crab Yellow shore crab Striped shore crab Black clawed crab Chinese mitten crab Hemigrapsus nudus Hemigrapsus oregonensis Pachygrapsus crassipes Lophopanopeus bellus Eriocheir sinensis • Spotted claws, hairless legs. • Yellow to green color, hairy legs. • Horizontal lines across carapace. • Large, black tipped claws. • Native to China. • Plays dead when handled. • NOT found in Oregon as of 2007. .i.. 'A -f Claws covered with hairs 1. Identification: -*.; Long spidery legs • White tipped claws with dense patches  of hair. Deep notch between eyes (______• 4 spines on each side of carapace. • Notch between eyes. size 1½-3” Mitten crab photo courtesy of size 1-2” size ¾-1½” size 1-2” size ¾-1¼” Lee Mecum, CDF&G * Color can be highly variable in crabs and should not be used soley for identification. All sizes are approximate for average adult carapace width (inches). ** If a non-native crab is found, please turn it in to ODFW with information on date and location.