Edible crab

Cancer pagurus

What do they look like?

The edible crab (sometimes known as the brown crab) has a thick brown shell with a ‘pie-crust’ edge. They are an orange/brown colour with black tips at the end of their claws.

Where can I see them in Scotland?

Edible crabs live along the rocky shore and out in shallow open water (up to 100 metres depth) where they are active predators, feeding on shellfish and even other crabs.

When rockpooling, please be careful to leave everything as you found it.

Discover more about how to rockpool responsibly by watching our Beginner's Guide.

Crab on sandy background
©Charlotte Foster