Angular Crab

Goneplax rhomboides

The Angular Crab, known scientifically as Goneplax rhomboides, is a small crustacean with a distinctive trapezoidal carapace that can reach up to 3.7 cm in diameter. Its coloration ranges from yellowish-white to vivid pink, making it relatively easy to spot against the muddy or sandy bottoms it inhabits. One of its notable features is the long, slender legs with bristles, and the retractable eyestalks that help distinguish it from similar species like G. clevai. This species is distributed across the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, ranging from the North Sea to southern Africa, and even into the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa. It prefers muddy habitats and often shares its burrows with other species, creating complex, interconnected systems. The Angular Crab typically resides at depths ranging from 3 to 750 meters, with a significant number found shallower than 40 meters. The Angular Crab is carnivorous, feeding on the bottom-dwelling organisms in its environment. Its reproductive behavior includes a precopulatory courtship ritual, which is common among members of the order Decapoda. Despite its wide distribution, the conservation status of the Angular Crab has not been evaluated by the IUCN.