cancer cancer commonly known edible crab brown crab species crab found north_sea mediterranean_sea robust crab reddish brown colour having oval characteristic pie crust edge black tips claws mature adult width weigh nocturnal predator targeting range crustaceans subject largest crab fishery western_europe centred coasts british isles tonnes caught annually description adults reddish brown colour young specimens purple brown occasionally bears white patches shaped edge rounded resembling pie crust males typically millimetres long females long reach long exceptional cases width typically exceptionally fold extends constitute chamber gills lie modified strong bearing leg fingers black tips covered rows short stiff black tip ends sharp point antennae visible eyes situated comprise pairs pair pair finally common crabs abdomen folded shows clear sexual males comparatively narrow female wider life cycle reproduction occurs winter male stands female forms cage legs protecting internal takes place new aid abdominal mating female pit sea floor lay eggs eggs held female abdomen months hatch developmental stage hatching called develops finally juvenile juvenile stage characterised developed abdomen time reduced size folded juveniles settle sea floor zone stay reach width migrate deeper water growth rate males increase width year years old year females grow half rate males probably energetic demands egg laying sexual maturity reached width females males longevity typically years exceptional individuals live years distribution ecology cancer abundant northeast atlantic far norway north northern africa south mixed coarse grounds mud sand shallow depths metres frequently found inhabiting cracks holes rocks occasionally open areas smaller specimens found rocks zone unconfirmed reports suggest occur mediterranean_sea black_sea nocturnal hiding buried substrate day foraging night metres diet includes variety crustaceans including crabs crabs including stalk ambush prey dig large pits reach buried main predator cancer octopus attack inside crab fishermen use trap compared commercially important crab species relatively little known diseases cancer parasites include white spot syndrome virus bacteria cause dark like cause pink crab disease microscopic include fungi cancer targeted parasites including parasitic number animals occasionally settle including sea saddle fishery cancer heavily exploited commercially range commercially important crab species western_europe crabs caught crab similar placed offshore catch increased steadily rising tonnes caught british isles fishery widely dispersed british irish coasts thought area edible crabs caught british fleet exported live sale france spain number legal restrictions apply catching cancer illegal catch crabs females carrying eggs females remain pits dug sediment feed fishing pressure affect supply larvae minimum landing sizes set european_union technical regulations government different minimum sizes employed different geographical areas reflect differences crab growth rate range particular crab fishery coasts suffolk norfolk lincolnshire subject species range intermediate value rest north_sea 56th parallel north essex kent border south cornwall isles separate males females norwegian catch tons annually compared tons united_kingdom tons ireland tons france total tons globally weight adult edible crab meat white meat claws crabs thirds brown meat body food male edible crabs referred females sweet white meat rich brown meat dishes include dressed crab crab meat arranged cleaned shell decoration hot taxonomy according rules international code nomenclature cancer described tenth edition marks starting point nomenclature chosen type species genus cancer specific epithet latin word ancient greek alongside refer edible marine crabs classical term assigned particular species genus cancer included crabs restricted species set closely related species closest relative crab cancer east coast north_america
Cancer pagurus