Metacarcinus edwardsii

Metacarcinus edwardsii, sometimes known as mola rock crab, southern rock crab, or Chilean rock crab, is a species of crab from the Pacific coast of South America.

Distribution
Metacarcinus edwardsii is found along the Pacific coast between Guayaquil in Ecuador and the Beagle Channel in the southernmost Chile.

Description
Females reach functional maturity at carapace width 106 mm, that is, 50% of females are egg-bearing at this size. Males reach functional maturity at slightly larger sizes. The largest male crabs measure about 165 mm in carapace width.

Metacarcinus edwardsii is univoltine, with the mating season from October to January.



Utilization
In Chile, it is the most important commercially exploited crab, caught exclusively in artisanal fisheries.