Description: The carapace of this crab is oval shaped, reddish-brown, with ridges and tubercles, and reaches a length of around 18 mm. There are no teeth between the eyes. The pincers are quite broad and unequal in size, although this is more noticeable in the male. The tips of the pincers are brown or black, and there are tubercles and ridges on some sections. There are four broad teeth on each side of the carapace.

Habitat: Reported from around 7 m to almost 900 m, on sand, sandy mud or gravel. This species has also been reported from Modiolus beds.

Distribution: Scattered records from around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with Xantho pilipes or Xantho hydrophilus. Xantho has more pronounced furrows on the carapace.

Key Identification Features:

• Oval-shaped carapace with four broad teeth on each side.
• Broad pincers with brown or black tips.
• No teeth between the eyes.

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

iNaturalist: Monodaeus couchi at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Monodaeus couchi at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Monodaeus couchii (Couch, 1851). AphiaID: 241154.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Brachyura; Eubrachyura; Heterotremata; Xanthoidea; Xanthidae; Euxanthinae; Monodaeus