Other identification tools | SeaLifeBase

Non-fish Identification: Find Species

Family: Cancridae rock crabs (See list of species below)

Select Ocean (marine/brackish) or Continent (freshwater):

Select Country (optional):

Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional)



21 species with fin ray counts including ? spines in dorsal and ? in anal fins (see list below)
No picture found

Cancer amphioetus
[Japanese rock crab]
No picture found

Cancer anthonyi
[Yellow rock crab]
No picture found

Cancer bellianus
[Toothed rock crab]


Cancer borealis
[Jonah crab]
No picture found

Cancer gibbosulus
[Gibbous rock crab]
No picture found

Cancer gracilis
[Graceful rock crab]


Cancer irroratus
[Atlantic rock crab]
No picture found

Cancer jordani
[Hairy rock crab]
No picture found

Cancer novaezealandiae
[Cancer crab]


Cancer pagurus
[Edible crab]
No picture found

Cancer plebejus
[Chilean crab]
No picture found

Cancer porteri
[Boco]
No picture found

Cancer productus
[Red rock crab]
No picture found

Glebocarcinus kashini
[]
No picture found

Glebocarcinus oregonensis
[Pygmy rock crab]
No picture found

Metacarcinus edwardsii
[Mola rock crab]


Metacarcinus magister
[Dungeness crab]
No picture found

Platepistoma balssii
[]
No picture found

Romaleon antennarium
[California red rock crab]
No picture found

Romaleon branneri
[Furrowed rock crab]
No picture found

Romaleon setosum
[Rock-crabs]
21 Species of Family Cancridae
(rock crabs)
Sort by: Species Length
Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm)
Cancer amphioetus Japanese rock crab Pacific Ocean.
Cancer anthonyi Yellow rock crab Eastern Central Pacific 17.5 CW
Cancer bellianus Toothed rock crab Eastern Atlantic 22.1 CW
Cancer borealis Jonah crab Western Atlantic 16 CW
Cancer gibbosulus Gibbous rock crab Northwest Pacific
Cancer gracilis Graceful rock crab Eastern Pacific 10 CW
Cancer irroratus Atlantic rock crab Western Atlantic. 8.9 CW
Cancer jordani Hairy rock crab Eastern Pacific 3.3 CW
Cancer novaezealandiae Cancer crab Southwest Pacific
Cancer pagurus Edible crab Eastern Atlantic and the 20 CL
Cancer plebejus Chilean crab Southeast Pacific and Sou 15 CW
Cancer porteri Boco Southern Pacific 12.3 CW
Cancer productus Red rock crab Eastern Pacific 20 CW
Glebocarcinus kashini Northwest Pacific
Glebocarcinus oregonensis Pygmy rock crab Northeast Pacific 4 CW
Metacarcinus edwardsii Mola rock crab Southeast Pacific 16.83 CW
Metacarcinus magister Dungeness crab Eastern Pacific 22.5 CW
Platepistoma balssii Eastern Pacific.
Romaleon antennarium California red rock crab Eastern Pacific 15 CW
Romaleon branneri Furrowed rock crab Eastern Pacific 7.5 CW
Romaleon setosum Rock-crabs Southeast Pacific



Other identification tools in SeaLifeBase


Quick Identification
Identification keys
Identification by morphometrics
Identification by pictures:
          If you already know the Family, go to Search SeaLifeBase, select Family and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the family.

          If you already know the Country, go to
Search SeaLifeBase, select Country and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the country.

          If you already know the Ecosystem, go to
Search SeaLifeBase, select Ecosystem and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the ecosystem.