About Atelecyclus undecimdentatus (Herbst, 1783)
The body of Atelecyclus undecimdentatus is quite hairy, and ranges in color from whitish to cream, with purple marks on the carapace. The carapace has a smooth texture and a fringe of long setae. It is significantly wider than it is long, growing up to 5 cm long and 6.3 cm wide. The postero-lateral margins of the carapace converge strongly. Individuals of this species are often very dirty, which can change their appearance. Its antennae are short, only reaching about a quarter of the length of the carapace. Its two claws are similar to each other, with black tips. Both the claws and legs have many bristles. This crab is sometimes mistaken for the more common Atelecyclus rotundatus, but A. rotundatus can be told apart by its finer granulations and narrower carapace. This species is found in the coastal Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel, and also occurs rarely in the Mediterranean Sea. Atelecyclus undecimdentatus normally lives in waters around 30 metres deep, on bottoms that range from gravel to sandy mud, and sometimes lives under rocks.
