Description: Slightly broader than it is long, making it roughly diamond shaped, the carapace length can be up to 11 mm. The colour of the carapace is variable, it can be red-yellow to red-white and it has dark red spots. The walking legs are usually more yellow than the carapace. The carapace is covered in flat granular tubercles, sometimes having a more beaded appearance, there are some raised sections towards the centre of the carapace. Pincers are equal in size and covered in tubercles like the carapace. This Ebalia has a slightly longer carapace profile than the other Ebalia species.

Habitat: Reported from 10 m to around 550 m, on muddy sand or gravel.

Distribution: Occasional records from around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other Ebalia species. Careful inspection of carapace shape and features required.

Key Identification Features:

• Broader than it is long, giving ‘diamond’ shape distinctive to Ebalia.
• This species has a slightly longer carapace profile than other Ebalia species.
• Red-yellow to red-white with dark red spots.
• Carapace covered in flat granular tubercles, as are parts of the pincers.

Distribution Map from NBN: Ebalia cranchii at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Ebalia cranchii at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Ebalia cranchii at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Ebalia cranchii Leach, 1817. AphiaID: 107294.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Brachyura; Eubrachyura; Heterotremata; Leucosioidea; Leucosiidae; Ebaliinae; Ebalia