Arboreal Architecture

Cancer pagurus - crab shell

Cancer pagurus, commonly known as the edible crab, brown crab, or European edible crab, is a large crustacean found in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is economically significant in European fisheries due to its size and meat content.

Basic Information

Feature & Details

Scientific name: Cancer pagurus

Common names: Edible crab, brown crab

Family: Cancridae

Distribution: Northeast Atlantic (Norway to Morocco), North Sea, parts of the Mediterranean

Habitat: Rocky and sandy sea beds, from shallow waters to ~100 m deep (sometimes deeper)

Physical Characteristics

Trait & Description

Carapace: Broad, oval, reddish-brown with a distinctive “pie crust” edge

Size: Up to 25 cm across carapace; some can reach 3–5 kg

Claws (chelae): Large, black-tipped, powerful claws used for crushing prey

Sexual dimorphism: Males are typically larger and have a broader claw span than females

Ecology and Behavior

  • Diet: Omnivorous; feeds on mollusks (e.g. mussels, whelks), crustaceans, polychaete worms, and carrion

  • Activity: Nocturnal forager; hides in crevices or buries itself in sediment during the day

  • Predators: Larger fish, octopuses, and humans

  • Lifespan: Typically 15–20 years

Reproduction

  • Breeding season: Autumn to winter

  • Fertilization: Internal; sperm is stored by females and used months later to fertilize eggs

  • Eggs: Females carry fertilized eggs under the abdomen ("berried females") for several months

  • Larvae: Hatch into planktonic larvae (zoea), later developing into juvenile crabs

Economic Importance

  • Commercial value: One of the most important shellfish species in UK, French, and Irish fisheries

  • Harvesting methods: Primarily caught using baited pots (traps); some by trawling or hand collection

  • Meat: Highly prized; claws and white meat especially valued

  • Management concerns: Overfishing, especially of larger males, and regional population declines

Conservation & Regulation

  • Minimum landing sizes (MLS): Varies by country/region to protect juveniles

  • Seasonal closures: Implemented in some areas to protect breeding populations

  • Bycatch reduction: Pot design improvements help reduce bycatch of undersized crabs or non-target species

Did You Know?

  • The species has a distinctive sideways walk, like most crabs.

  • Cancer pagurus is often confused with other brown crabs, but the “pie crust” edge and black-tipped claws are key ID features.

  • It can exert a force of over 90 pounds per square inch with its claws—strong enough to crack mollusk shells easily.