Red Rock Crab

Appearance

''Cancer productus'' has carapace teeth that are somewhat broad and rounded with teeth between the eyes of nearly equal size and shape. The carapace of ''C. productus'' is widest at the posterior-most tooth, up to 20.0 cm wide. The pincers are large with distinctive black tips. This species lacks serrations or projections on the ventral side of the claws. Adults have a brick-red coloration throughout. The coloration of juveniles is diverse, often white, sometimes with red spots, or zebra-striped.

Naming

Dungeness crab has serrations on the dorsal side of the chelipeds and lacks black tips. The graceful rock crab has a single projection on the dorsal side of the chelipeds and also lacks black tips, and the widest point of carapace is at the second posterior-most tooth. The pygmy rock crab has black-tipped chelipeds, but has large tubercles on the dorsum. ''G. oregonensis'' is also much smaller, such that a ''C. productus'' of similar size would generally have the striking juvenile coloration.

Behavior

''Cancer productus'' is carnivorous; in Puget Sound it will crush barnacles with its large pincers for consumption. Small living crabs and dead fish are also eaten. Mating in this species occurs when the female is soft-shelled from October to June in Puget Sound. The male can often been seen guarding females until molting during this time. This species is known to be a favorite prey item of ''Enteroctopus dofleini'', the giant Pacific octopus.

Habitat

''C. productus'' ranges from Kodiak Island, Alaska to Isla San Martine, Baja California. It inhabits mid-intertidal waters to 79 m depth.