Crown crab

Introduction: Crown crabs (Hymenosoma orbiculara) have a flat, round body with a small triangular growth between the rostrum (eyes). The tips of the fingers and thumb are sharply pointed and the hinge of the nippers smooth not hairy. They live in estuaries and lagoons shuffling into the sand.

Distribution: Luderitz south to the mouth of the Orange River.

Diet: Feeds on small crustaceans

Colouration: The pale, mottled with brown body is often overgrown with micro-algae.

Breeding: Eggs hatch into planktonic larvae

Max size: 15mm