The Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is a medium-sized crab possessing a flat but otherwise broad carapace. Look for it in the rocky substrate in deep waters of the western North Atlantic Ocean and not tidal zones preferred by other crabs of similar size. As a member of the family Cancridae, the Jonah Crab is identified by rounded and rough-edged carapace showing tiny white spots. Its robust claws are dark-brown at the tips and show an abdomen that is small and folded below the thorax and pincers. This crab is edible with a sweet taste, though has less meat when compared to the Dungeness crab.
The Jonah Crab has a carapace length between 3.7”-5.6” (9.5-14.3 cm), carapace width of 5.9”-8.7” (15-22 cm), body height of 2”-3” (5.1-7.7 cm), and weight between .75-1.2 lb (.34-.54 kg). The typical lifespan of the Jonah Crab is between 1-5 years.
The Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is a medium-sized crab possessing a flat but otherwise broad carapace. Look for it in the rocky substrate in deep waters of the western North Atlantic Ocean and not tidal zones preferred by other crabs of similar size. As a member of the family Cancridae, the Jonah Crab is identified by rounded and rough-edged carapace showing tiny white spots. Its robust claws are dark-brown at the tips and show an abdomen that is small and folded below the thorax and pincers. This crab is edible with a sweet taste, though has less meat when compared to the Dungeness crab.
The Jonah Crab has a carapace length between 3.7”-5.6” (9.5-14.3 cm), carapace width of 5.9”-8.7” (15-22 cm), body height of 2”-3” (5.1-7.7 cm), and weight between .75-1.2 lb (.34-.54 kg). The typical lifespan of the Jonah Crab is between 1-5 years.