Category: Crabs and Shrimp view all from this category

Description 1/2" (13 mm) wide, 2 1/4" (57 mm) long. Arrowhead-shaped. Pale gray, cream-colored, buff, or orange with inverted, V-shaped, light-and-dark-brown or black stripes; legs reddish, bright red at joints; fingers of pincers blue, eyes maroon. Carapace triangular, smooth, widest at rear, narrowing toward eyes, extending forward as long, slender, spiny beak. Pincers twice body length, slender; legs slender, over 3 times body length, with 2–3 rows of fine spines on longest joints.

Habitat On rock, shell, sand, and coral-rubble bottoms, coral reefs, jetties, and wharf pilings; from low-tide line to water 4884' (1489 m) deep.

Range North Carolina to Florida and Texas; Bermuda; Bahamas; West Indies to Brazil.

Discussion This dainty and elegant little crab is a delight to watch as it walks delicately among the rocks or on a reef. In recent years it has appeared in pet stores.