(Fabricius, 1775)
Description:
Carapace appreciably narrowed anteriorly, surface and limbs with numerous small hook-setae often concealed by encrusting growths of epifauna, frontal region produced as a narrow V-shaped rostrum, each distal half often contiguous and leaving only a narrow slit between them; each protogastric region with a tubercle; second and third peduncular segments of antenna slender; eyestalks totally visible from dorsal aspect. Second pereiopods thicker and longer than others. Female chelipeds small. Male chelipeds larger than in female, propodus short and inflated.
Size:
Carapace length up to 14 (20.5) mm.
Habitat:
Depth range from lower shore to 50 metres, on sand. Ovigerous crabs and larvae throughout year.
Colour:
Carapace brownish to reddish yellow, chelipeds lighter.
Distribution:
Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeen, Firth of Forth, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Thames, East Channel, Wight, Portland, Channel Isles, Plymouth, Scilly Isles, Bristol Channel, Liverpool Bay, Isle of Man, Dublin, Belfast, Clyde & Argyll, Mayo, Galway Bay, Fastnet, Cork.