There are a few significant distinctions between snow crab and Dungeness crab, both of which are utilized in a variety of delicious recipes, depending on how creatures differ in their living and cycles of life. Whether you’re considering eating them for your next meal or just wanting to learn more about their life cycles, these crabs are delectable.
Let’s get started with learning about crabs. We’ll discuss how long they live in the wild and also talk about their behavioral differences. In this post, we’ll cover everything from their preferred habitats to their physical appearances, including the distinctions between snow crabs and Dungeness crabs.

Let’s examine some of the main points of comparison between two types of crab.
Size
Excluding the legs, the Dungeness Crab has a length of 8-10 inches and a weight of 2-3 pounds. Likewise, the snow crab has a length of 6-8 inches and a weight of 3-4 pounds.
Behavior
Throughout the teenage years, the snow crab undergoes frequent molting, which gradually decreases as it reaches adulthood. It takes pleasure in digging into muddy areas and typically dwells at depths of 1000 feet or less. On the other hand, the Dungeness crab can be found as deep as 2000 feet and prefers the shallower sandy regions along the coast. It sheds its exoskeleton multiple times within a single season.
Appearance
Crabs are often spotted with orange or red shells when they are young. Snow crabs have smaller claws and elongated legs. The shell of a snow crab may even be colored purple and have an oval shape, with a rust or orange color. The Dungeness crab, on the other hand, has large claws and short legs.
Lifespan
The Dungeness crab has a lifespan of 8-13 years, while the snow crab can live for 15-20 years.

Habitat
The Dungeness crab can be found in the moderate ocean waters of the western United States and northern regions of Great Britain. On the other hand, the snow crab tends to thrive in the colder and more icy waters of the north Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Snow Crab vs Dungeness Crab: Differences
A snow crab and Dungeness crabs vary in numerous aspects, such as the comparison between king crab and snow crab. The size of a snow crab is greater than that of a Dungeness crab’s body.
The crabs in different geographical locations and habitat preferences vary greatly. Snow crabs have an average lifespan of 3-7 years, which is longer than Dungeness crabs. The legs of snow crabs are a little thicker compared to the legs of Dungeness crabs.
Dungeness Crab vs Snow Crab: Size
The weight and size of Dungeness crabs compared to snow crabs is an interesting comparison. Dungeness crabs typically weigh around 2-3 pounds on average, whereas snow crabs weigh around 3-4 pounds on average. In terms of size, snow crabs are smaller than Dungeness crabs. This is evident in the overall body measurement of the snow crab.
Why do snow crabs generally have a higher weight compared to Dungeness crabs? One possible explanation is that snow crab limbs are lengthier than those of a Dungeness crab. Conversely, a snow crab’s body size does not exceed 6-8 inches, while a Dungeness crab can grow up to 8-10 inches.

Dungeness Crab vs Snow Crab: Behavior
Despite some differences, both Dungeness crabs and snow crabs exhibit comparable behaviors. Snow crabs undergo molting solely during their adolescent stage, transitioning less frequently as they reach adulthood, whereas Dungeness crabs molt more frequently within a single year. Moreover, unlike snow crabs, Dungeness crabs do not favor colder temperatures.
Appearance
Especially as they mature, the colors of these crabs differ from each other. Furthermore, the snow crab possesses considerably lengthier appendages compared to the Dungeness crab, which might make you skeptical, but you should be able to distinguish the Dungeness crab from the snow crab at first glance.
When young, snow crabs are typically orange or rusty in color, while Dungeness crabs retain a reddish or orange hue. Additionally, Dungeness crabs may develop darker spots or an olive sheen, whereas snow crabs often have purple tints. If you’re interested in eating delicious and good crab, this is generally the case.
Dungeness Crab vs Snow Crab: Lifespan
The snow crab generally has a lengthier lifespan on average. The snow crab is caught and consumed as a component of the fishing sector, alongside Dungeness crabs. Nevertheless, the typical duration of existence for a snow crab in its natural habitat is considerably higher than that of a Dungeness crab.
The lifespan of these two crab species varies significantly, with the snow crab living an average of 20 to 15 years and the Dungeness crab living an average of 13 to 8 years.

Location
The habitat choices of Dungeness crabs and snow crabs are extremely different.
Snow crabs may only be found in northern oceans such as the Atlantic and Pacific. However, Dungeness crabs can be found off the coasts of England or California, particularly in more temperate climates.
Actually, Dungeness crabs were named after the area in England where they were initially found!
In general, snow crabs favor rocky regions, whereas Dungeness crabs tend to prefer estuaries and shallow water. Moreover, snow crabs can be found at significantly greater depths compared to Dungeness crabs, despite both species enjoying burrowing in muddy or sandy waters. The preferred environments of these crabs exhibit certain differences.