Red-spotted Shame-faced Crab Calappa granulata

Shame-faced Crabs are so named as they cover their faces with their clawed arms when resting or threatened, looking as if hiding in embarrrasment. They are also called Box Crabs since they also withdraw their legs within the carapace to protect them. They also hide beneath the sand.

The Red-spotted Shame-faced Crab is native to subtropical sandy, gritty or muddy seabeds of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to West Africa and including the Canary Islands and Azores. Its high-domed, red-spotted pink shell grows to 8-10cm wide. Diet is mainly molluscs.