Description: A small crab, with a carapace broader than it is long, reaching a length of 15 mm and a width of around 18 mm. The carapace is coloured blackish-violet often with white or pale patches and red margins. There are white or pale coloured bumps (tubercles) on the surface. The pincers and legs are banded with brown and yellow. The pincers are equal in size and relatively small. There are five teeth either side of the carapace and three rounded teeth between the eyes, the middle of these is noticeably long.

Habitat: Extreme low shore down to around 180 m. Seems to prefer a gravel or sand substrate.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland, but probably under-recorded.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with juveniles of some other species. Not often recorded so photographs to accompany any records would be most useful.

Key Identification Features:

• A small crab, reaching a carapace length of 15 mm.
• Blackish-violet carapace, often with white or pale patches and red margins.
• White or pale-coloured bumps on the surface.
• Pincers and legs banded with brown and yellow.

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

iNaturalist: Pirimela denticulata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Pirimela denticulata

WoRMS: Pirimela denticulata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Pirimela denticulata (Montagu, 1808). AphiaID: 107278.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Brachyura; Eubrachyura; Heterotremata; Portunoidea; Pirimelidae; Pirimelinae; Pirimela