Knobknee Crab

Lophopanopeus leucomanus

The Knobknee Crab, belonging to the family Panopeidae, is a benthic crustacean found in the East Pacific. It is part of the order Decapoda, which consists mostly of species that are gonochoric, meaning they have distinct male and female individuals. This species is known for its precopulatory courtship rituals, which involve both olfactory and tactile cues, and typically involves indirect sperm transfer. Divers are likely to encounter the Knobknee Crab in shallower waters, as 72% of recorded observations occur at depths shallower than 40 meters, and 90% are found at depths less than about 80 meters.