Description: A small crab, with a triangular carapace with a length of around 14 mm (rarely up to 19 mm), that is covered in large spines and tubercles. The pincers and walking legs also have numerous tubercles, many of which are mushroom-shaped or triangular. The rostrum is very broad in relation to body size and each half is spaced well apart, and tapers into a point. There is a spine below each eye. The pincers are equal in size. The walking legs have stiff hairs on the outermost section.

Habitat: From lower shore to 180 m on hard and muddy sand, has been occasionally reported from deep water (900 m +).

Distribution: Recorded all around Britain and Ireland. Potentially confused with Eurynome spinosa.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Eurynome spinosa. The pincers of Eurynome aspersa are shorter and they seem to have different habitat preferences.

Key Identification Features:

• Small crab covered in prominent tubercles.
• Rostrum broad and with two tapering points.
• Triangular or ‘mushroom-shaped’ tubercles.
• Pincers smaller relative to body size than Eurynome spinosa.

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

iNaturalist: Eurynome aspera at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Eurynome aspera

WoRMS: Eurynome aspera at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Eurynome aspera (Pennant, 1777). AphiaID: 107318.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Brachyura; Eubrachyura; Heterotremata; Majoidea; Majidae; Majinae; Eurynome