What is "jonah crab"

Jonah \Jo"nah\, n. The Hebrew prophet, who was cast overboard as one who endangered the ship; hence, any person whose presence is unpropitious.

Jonah crab (Zo["o]l.), a large crab ( Cancer borealis) of the eastern coast of the United States, sometimes found between tides, but usually in deep water.

The Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is a marine brachyuran crab that inhabits waters along the east coast of North America from Newfoundland to Florida. Jonah crabs possess a rounded, rough-edged carapace with small light spots, and robust claws with dark brown-black tips. The maximum reported carapace width for males is 222 mm, while females rarely exceed 150 mm.