Best identification characters:

• White tipped claws
• Ten carapace spines (widest at 10th)
• Color reddish-brown to purple

ID Photo

Crab life history

Crab behavior

Best identification characters:

• Black tipped claws
• Wide “fan” shaped carapace
• Color typically a deep brick red

ID Photo

Red rock crabs, Cancer productus, are native to Oregon. They are often called "Japanese Crab"; a misnomer that may cause worry among recreational crabbers. Red rock crabs are in fact a native species found in the fossil record as well as in Native American middens. They are an important component of Oregon estuaries and nearshore areas, and even function as a steward to the estuary by predating on invasive species such as green crab (Carcinus maenas).

Red rock crab habitat
As the name implies red rock crab prefer the harder substrate habitats such as rocks, pilings, and other structure. Red rock crab prefer higher salinities than Dungeness crab and therefore are usually found in larger estuaries, close to the ocean. They are most common in Coos, Yaquina, and Tillamook. Photo

Colorful juveniles
As juveniles, red rock crab can be found in a wide variety of colors and patterns: photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4

The last crab an invasive will meet
Red rock crab are significant predators on green crab. The two species rarely exist in the same habitats because of the aggressive nature of the native red rock and Dungeness. Green crab in Oregon have likely been confined to a very limited habitat (shallow areas of upper estuary) because of the presence of red rock crab. Photo

A similar relative
The Pacific rock crab (Cancer antennarius) inhabits similar habitats as the red rock crab, however is more often found in the nearshore ocean. Occasionally, these crab are caught in the bay. They are easily discerned from red rock crab by their spotted undersides, brown/ purple color, and more haired legs. It's species name "antennarius" is Latin meaning "antennae" this refers to the noticeable larger antennae of this species when compared to other cancer crabs. Comparison photo

Found: Among rocky areas and pilings in the lower estuary. Very common among kelp in nearshore ocean areas. Size 2-4"

Best identification characteristics:

• Large claws
• “Shield-shaped” carapace
• Long “spidery” legs
• Underside often a deep red color

ID Photo

Kelp crab are in the Majidae or "Spider crab" family. Several species in this diverse family are excellent climbers, many are found in the complex habitats of the Oregon's rocky reefs. Northern kelp crab, may look like intimidating predators, but they are actually primarily kelp eaters. They are very common in the lower estuary and the nearshore ocean, particularly within kelp beds and around structure such as pilings. Occasionally, kelp crab are caught by recreational crabbers, often just because they will climb on crab line. Unlike the sand dwelling Dungeness crab, kelp crab are designed for climbing. This is apparent when looking at their rear legs which are rounded and feature a serrated edge on the dactyls (terminal segment of leg) that ease climbing on kelp and other structure. The same feature of a Dungeness crab shows the flattened shape that enables them to travel across soft bottomed areas very quickly.

Found: among rocky areas and pilings in the lower estuary. Very common in rocky nearshore ocean. Size 3-5"

Best identification characters:

• Black tipped claws
• Wide “fan” shaped carapace
• Color typically a deep brick red

ID Photo

The Pacific rock crab (Cancer antennarius) inhabits similar habitats as the red rock crab, however is more often found in the nearshore ocean. Occasionally, these crab are caught in the bay. They are easily discerned from red rock crab by their spotted undersides, brown/ purple color, and more haired legs. It's species name "antennarius" is Latin meaning "antennae" this refers to the noticeable larger antennae of this species when compared to other cancer crabs. Comparison photo

Female	Male

Found: Among rocky areas and pilings in the lower estuary. Very common among kelp in nearshore ocean areas. Size ¾-1½ "

Best identification characteristics:

• Large claws
• “Shield-shaped” carapace
• Long “spidery” legs
• Underside often a deep red color

ID Photo

Found: infrequently in sandy areas in the estuary. Size 2-4"

Best identification characteristics:

• White tipped claws
• Widest at 9th carapace spine
• Purplish legs
• Smaller than adult Dungeness crab

ID Photo

Pygmy rock crab

Found: among rocky areas and pilings in the lower estuary. Very common in rocky nearshore ocean. Size 1-2"

Best identification characteristics:

• Black tipped claws
• Round carapace
• Hairy legs
• Small size

ID Photo

Green crab

Found: In the shallow areas of the mid to upper estuaries. Adult crab shell (carapace) width is 2-4". 
Best identification characteristics:

• 3 bumps between eyes
• 5 spines on each side of carapace

Color is variable, and not the best characteristic to identify green crab. Green crab can be green, black, or yellow on top of carapace and have white, yellow, orange, or reddish undersides and leg joints.

ID photo

Green crab, Carcinus maenas, are an invasive species in Oregon. They can be a variety of colors. Most commonly they are greenish mixed with yellow, and often with red or orange color at their joints and abdomen. In Oregon, green crab typically inhabit shallow rocky areas of mildly salty waters in the mid to upper estuary. They may be restricted to these habitats in part by the native red rock crab, Cancer productus. Much like the familiar Dungeness crab, young green crab will more often be found higher in estuaries than adults. When green crabs try to cohabitate with red rock crab, adult green crab in the lower estuaries often become a food source for Dungeness and red rock.

Molting juvenile dungeness crab

Don't get oversold on color for identifying crab
The crab on the right is NOT a green crab. This is a juvenile Dungeness crab, which has just molted, the molt is the brown one in front and the live crab is the green one. Beachgoers often see large numbers of these newly molted and small "green" colored crab, which are in fact native Dungeness crab.

I found a green crab! Now what?
Occasionally, crabbers will catch a green crab. First, make sure you have a green crab – they are often mistaken for native shore crabs and small native red rock crab. Retain green crab caught in your gear - it is illegal to return them to state waters. The daily bag limit is 35 of any size or sex and is separate from other crab species. Try them as food with the rest of your catch. Do not mutilate or kill any crab while you are crabbing. Questions? Talk to an ODFW shellfish biologist at the Astoria, Newport, or Charleston office.

• Detailed information on Green crab

Found: Very high (intertidal) up in large bays (Coos, Yaquina), burrowed into mud or under rocks. Size ½-1 " If found: Bring in to local ODFW office.

Best identification characteristics:

• Claws usually unequally sized
• Notch between eyes NOT prominent
• Four spines on each side of carapace
• Small crab (<20 mm carapace with)

ID photo

Found: Chinese mitten crab are currently NOT found in Oregon, if ever found it would most likely be in areas of high freshwater influence. If found: Bring in to local ODFW office.

Best identification characteristics:

• Hairy claws
• Notch between eyes
• 4 spines on each side of carapace

ID photo

Found: among rocks and mud throughout the estuary. Size ¾-1¼ "

ID photo

Found: among rocks in the lower estuary and tide pools. Size 1-2"

Best identification characteristics:

• Purple / red spotted claws
• Soft tissues on at base of claws
• 3 spines on each side of carapace
• Legs without hairs
• occasionally green (photo)

ID photo

Found: among rocks and mud throughout the estuary. Size ¾-1½ "

Best identification characteristics:

• usually mottled green/yellow with dark spots
• occasionally variable coloring (white)
• legs hairy

ID photo

Found: among rocks and mud throughout the estuary. Size 1-2"

Larger photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Claws usually orange
• Legs banded
• Leg dactyls black
• Body covered in spines and hairs

ID photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Rostrum flat or rounded
• Crapace bumpy and rough
• Stripe dividing carapace often evident
• Legs wrinkly

ID photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Claw tips white
• Setae on rostrum, normally decorated
• Lateral carapace teeth strongly curved and aimed forward

ID photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Often covered in encrusting invertebrates
• Rostrum is two short flat plates
• Legs shor and round

ID photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Three rows of paird spines anterior to forked rostrum

ID photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Right claw often larger than the left
• Carapace covered in shor spines
• Long rounded legs
• Short rostrum

ID photo

Best identification characteristics:

• Respritory holes on lower claws
• Three walking legs
• Prominent spine on top of carapace

ID photo