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Nature

Dungeness Crab

What is dungeness crab?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name Metacarcinus magister[2]
Alternative scientific name Cancer magister[3]
Family Cancridae[1]
Order Decapoda[3]
Range Alaska to California[2]
Common name origin Dungeness, Washington[4]

Dungeness crab is an edible crab species found along the Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to California, and is a major commercial and sport fishery. It is scientifically known as *Metacarcinus magister* (also *Cancer magister* in some sources) and is named after Dungeness, Washington. [2] [3] [4] [1]

Context

Dungeness crab is an edible crab species of the Pacific coast of North America, commonly identified as *Metacarcinus magister* (also given as *Cancer magister* in some sources) [2] [3]. It is a commercially important crab found from Alaska to California, with the common name tied to Dungeness, Washington [4] [2]. It is one of the largest and commercially most important crabs of the Pacific coast [3], and it is sold as whole cooked crab, sections, clusters, legs, and picked meat [4]. Legal harvest sizes vary by jurisdiction: the National Park Service specifies a male crab with a carapace less than 165 mm, with females thrown back [5], while the Alaska Department of Fish and Game gives a legal-sized male as 6 ½ inches in carapace width [2].

Documented claims

  • It is one of the most important seafood industries along the west coast of North America. [1]
  • It is one of the largest and commercially most important crabs of the Pacific coast. [3]

Questions and answers

Which is better, Dungeness or King crab?

The sources do not compare Dungeness and King crab directly, but Dungeness crab is described as one of the largest and commercially most important crabs of the Pacific coast [3].

Does Canada have Dungeness crab?

The sources describe Dungeness crab as ranging from Alaska to California, which includes Canadian Pacific waters, but they do not explicitly mention Canada [2].

How much is 1 lb Dungeness crab?

The sources do not provide pricing information for Dungeness crab.

What's the best way to cook Dungeness crab?

The sources do not include cooking instructions for Dungeness crab.

Sources

  1. Dungeness Crabs of Glacier Bay - National Park Service — nps.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Dungeness Crab Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game — adfg.alaska.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Definition of DUNGENESS CRAB — prod-ccroc-direct.merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Dungeness crab — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Dungeness Crab Definition — yourdictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature