Fauna
Invertebrate

Snow Crab

Chionoecetes opilio

Also known as Opilio Crab, Queen Crab, Opies

Snow crabs roam cold subarctic sea floors where bottom water temperatures hover near freezing, migrating across soft muddy plains to feed, molt, and reproduce. Mature males develop exceptionally long walking legs and enlarged claws used to grasp females during prolonged courtship embraces that can last for days. Massive recent fluctuations in Arctic sea ice have triggered historic population collapses, exposing their intense sensitivity to shifting ocean climates.

CrustaceanMarineBenthic
Snow Crab reference
(c) Totti, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPolychaete Worms, Bivalve Mollusks, Brittle Stars
Predators
  • Pacific Cod
  • Pacific Halibut
  • Bearded Seal
ThreatsMarine heatwaves, ocean warming, loss of sea ice, and commercial harvest pressure
HabitatsCold muddy or sandy continental shelf bottoms from 20 to 500 meters deep
Life span14–20 years
Classification
  1. FamilyOregoniidae
  2. SpeciesChionoecetes opilio
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Large claws can deliver a crushing pinch; hold live crabs firmly from the rear carapace.
Why it is dangerous
Powerful chelipeds exert significant crushing force capable of bruising flesh, tearing skin, or fracturing small finger bones.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize the round, light brown to reddish carapace and five pairs of long, flattened legs with iridescent sheens.
What to do
Never pick up a live crab by its legs or face-to-face; secure both hands on the posterior margin of the carapace.
Responsible observation
  • Handling Safety: Grasp the crab securely across the back edge of the shell to keep fingers away from the claws.
  • Sustainable Seafood: Check regional fishery status sheets to support stocks harvested under sustainable quota systems.
Related species
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