Description: A small crab (up about 2 – 3 cm across). The colour can be variable – white, yellow, with mottled patches of red-brown. Carapace is much broader than it is long and tapers towards the rear. The carapace is flat with a smooth surface with two broad lobes between the eyes. The first pair of legs bear large, unequally-sized claws with black tips. The other pairs of legs become shorter towards the rear of the animal. The legs and the underside of the shell are hairy.

Habitat: On the lower shore on sand, gravel and stones, and in the sublittoral up to around 40 m depth.

Distribution: Scattered records around Britain and Ireland. Very few records from east coast.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Xantho hyrdophilus, which does not have dense hair on the legs and underside of shell.

Key Identification Features:

• Carapace much broader than it is long, tapering towards the rear.
• Flat, smooth carapace.
• Two broad lobes between the eyes.
• Large, unequally-sized pincers with black tips.
• Dense hair on legs and underside of shell.

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

iNaturalist: Xantho pilipes at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Xantho pilipes at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Xantho pilipes A. Milne-Edwards, 1867. AphiaID: 107441.

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