Cancer productus

Randall, 1840

Red Rock Crab, Pearl of the Pacific Northwest

A large, commercially harvested crab native to the eastern Pacific coast of North America. display distinctive brick-red coloration with large pincers bearing black tips. The inhabits intertidal to subtidal waters and is an opportunistic , feeding on barnacles, small crabs, and fish. It is subject to sport and commercial fisheries, particularly in California and Washington.

Crab (probably Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) at Cape Cod National Seashore by NPS staff. Used under a Public domain license.

Red Rock Crab, Ganges Harbour by D. Gordon E. Robertson. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Cancer productus by Taollan82; Kirt L. Onthank. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cancer productus: //ˈkæn.sər prəˈdʌk.təs//

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Identification

Distinguished from Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) by lack of serrations on chelipeds and presence of black pincer tips. Distinguished from graceful rock crab (Metacarcinus gracilis) by widest at -most tooth (versus second posterior-most tooth) and lack of single dorsal projection on chelipeds. Distinguished from pygmy rock crab (Glebocarcinus oregonensis) by larger size, absence of large dorsal , and coloration. Distinguished from European edible crab (Cancer pagurus) by non-overlapping geographic range.

Images

Habitat

Marine coastal waters from mid-intertidal zone to 79 m depth. Found on rocky substrates and areas with sediment suitable for burying. Inhabits littoral and sublittoral .

Distribution

Eastern Pacific Ocean from Kodiak Island, Alaska, south to Isla San Martine, Baja California, Mexico.

Seasonality

Mating occurs October through June in Puget Sound region, coinciding with female molting period.

Diet

. Observed crushing barnacles with pincers for consumption. Eats small living crabs and dead fish. Has been observed employing speculative hunting technique of pouncing on tufts or open sediment areas followed by probing with legs to capture live teleost fishes.

Life Cycle

Larval stage consists of planktonic zoeae. Larval release and distribution patterns vary spatially; in Strait of Georgia, larvae found in southern and central regions.

Behavior

Buries in sediment using legs to pull and push body down, employing chelae only for final push beneath substrate. Burying less frequent and less deep than sympatric Cancer magister. Burying frequency increases with body size and occurs more often during daytime. Exhibits spontaneous periods of simultaneous cardiac and ventilatory arrest lasting up to 20 minutes in resting individuals, with stereotyped pattern of and scaphognathite responses. Males guard soft-shelled females prior to and during molting in mating season.

Ecological Role

on benthic including barnacles and smaller crabs. Prey item for giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini).

Human Relevance

Subject to sport and commercial harvest in California (primarily Morro Bay south) and Washington. Less sought after than Dungeness crab due to lower meat yield, though flesh has delicate flavor and slightly sweet taste. Minimum harvestable width 5 inches (130 mm) in Washington. Part of California rock crab fishery alongside C. anthonyi and Romaleon antennarium.

Similar Taxa

Metacarcinus magisterSympatric Dungeness crab distinguished by serrations on chelipeds and absence of black pincer tips; buries more frequently and deeply
Metacarcinus gracilisGraceful rock crab has single projection on chelipeds, lacks black tips, and widest at second -most tooth
Glebocarcinus oregonensisPygmy rock crab much smaller, has large , and similar-sized individuals would show coloration patterns
Cancer pagurusEuropean edible crab nearly identical morphologically but ranges do not overlap