Dungeness Crab: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Crabs and Shells · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. It is named after the Dungeness Spit in Washington state, a strip of land that shelters a shallow bay full of these crabs.
2. This crab chews with its stomach. Once food is swallowed, a set of tooth-like parts called the gastric mill grinds it up.
3. To grow, it wriggles out of its old shell. The soft new shell fills with water, and the crab ends up 15 to 25% bigger.
4. A mother carries up to 2 million eggs tucked under her tail flap. They start out bright orange and grow darker as they develop.
5. In 2009, after a campaign by pupils from a primary school, Oregon made the Dungeness crab its official state crustacean.

The quiz

1. Where does the Dungeness crab get its name?

• A ship called the Dungeness
• A strip of land in Washington state (correct)
• A scientist named Dungeness
• A river in Alaska

It is named after the Dungeness Spit, which shelters a bay full of these crabs.

2. Where are the Dungeness crab's tooth-like grinders?

• On its claws
• On its legs
• On its shell
• In its stomach (correct)

The gastric mill in its stomach grinds food after it is swallowed.

3. How much bigger does a crab get after leaving its old shell?

• 15 to 25% (correct)
• 1 to 2%
• Twice as big
• Ten times as big

Its new shell fills with water and it becomes 15 to 25% bigger.

4. What colour are Dungeness crab eggs at first?

• White
• Green
• Bright orange (correct)
• Blue

The eggs start bright orange and darken as they develop.

5. Who campaigned to make it Oregon's state crustacean?

• A group of chefs
• Primary school pupils (correct)
• Fishing boat captains
• A famous singer

Schoolchildren lobbied for it, and Oregon chose the crab in 2009.

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