About Carpilius maculatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
This species is the most prominent member of the genus Carpilius, and is easily identifiable by eleven bright red spots on its cream-colored carapace. The spots are arranged in a 2-3-4 pattern: two at the front of the carapace, three across the middle, and four at the posterior end. This species grows to approximately 18 cm, with an average carapace width of 152 mm, making it larger than other xanthid crabs. C. maculatus has a smooth carapace and overall smooth appearance, except for four protruding spines between its eyes. These crabs typically inhabit coral and rocky reef substrates, generally in the Indo-West Pacific. They have also been found outside this core region, with reported occurrences from Hawaii to Mozambique and South Africa. The closely related species Carpilius convexus is also generally found in the Indo-West Pacific, while Carpilius corallinus lives primarily in the central western Atlantic Ocean. C. maculatus is nocturnal, and actively scavenges on the ocean floor at night.
