Discover new crustaceans off Spain

Scientists from the INDEMARES research group have announced the discovery of a small crab species in the coral area at a depth of 1.410m off Galicia (Spain).

New crustaceans were discovered off the coast of Galicia (Photo: SINC)

This orange crustacean named Uroptychus cartesi is different from the crustaceans that have been recorded in Europe mainly in its outer appearance and the number of spikes on the shell. They are about 5 - 7cm in length, food is small crustaceans and particulate matter.

The main habitat of the newly discovered crab is the deep sea and mountain gorge, where there are many corals and horned corals outside the fishing grounds of the fishermen. Uroptychus cartesi crabs are quite shy, their larvae are not capable of widespread dispersal, but only exist for a few days during the planktonic period.

Researchers say Uroptychus cartesi crabs have close relatives in the Caribbean. The detailed description of this species has been published in ZOOTAXA zoological magazine.