General Description

Posterior margin of carapace with 1 or more projections, anterolateral margin weakly swollen; carapace smooth or covered with slender spines. Up to 13 mm long.

Biology

The Leucosiidae, aptly known as nut crabs or pebble crabs, are a readily recognisable family of small crabs that are common on soft sediments from the intertidal shore to shelf and slope depths. Species of Ebalia use the complex mouthparts to break up their prey, small invertebrates that are captured by the claws probed into the sediment.

Distribution

Southern temperate oceans, including southern Australia.

Habitat

Subtidal, to depths of 4-99 m.

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