CRUSTACEA : Decapoda : LeucosiidaeCRABS, SHRIMPS AND LOBSTERS

Ebalia tuberosa (Pennant, 1777)


Ebalia tuberosa image: _1060087
Ebalia tuberosa

Description: Broader then it is long, making it roughly diamond shaped, the carapace length is just over 1 cm. Colouration can vary from light yellow to reddish-brown, often with white spotting. Prominent tubercles on carapace, also often on legs. Raised sections on back of carapace make the rough shape of a cross. Front claws equal in length.

Habitat: Stones or gravel from lower shore to around 200 m.

Distribution: Found on all coasts around Britain and Ireland. Probably under-recorded due to being inconspicuous.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other Ebalia species. Careful inspection of carapace shape and pincers required to distinguish these species from each other.

Key Identification Features:

  • Broader than it is long giving 'diamond' shape distinctive to Ebalia sp.
  • Prominent tubercles on carapace.
  • Often prominent tubercles on legs.
  • Raised sections of carapace form a rough cross shape.

Distribution Map from NBN: Ebalia tuberosa at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Ebalia tuberosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Ebalia tuberosa at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Picton, B.E., Keatley, L. & Morrow, C.C. (2026). Ebalia tuberosa. (Pennant, 1777). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=S25430. Accessed on 2026-11-01