Eelgrass-habitat
Guides
Metacarcinus magister
Dungeness Crab
Metacarcinus magister, commonly known as the Dungeness crab, is a commercially important species of crab native to the west coast of North America. Adults typically reach 20 cm across the carapace and inhabit eelgrass beds and marine bottoms from Alaska to California. The species has a complex life cycle with planktonic larval stages (zoeae and megalopae) before settlement to benthic juvenile stages. It is highly valued as seafood and supports major commercial fisheries, particularly in Washington, Oregon, and California. Research indicates significant population and maternal variation in sensitivity to environmental stressors including ocean acidification and hypoxia.