Sealife guideThe batwing coral crabCarpilius corallinus

Last updated on 08/04/2025 at 11:11 PM
The batwing coral crab is a species of crab known for its large size and bright coloration, making it an iconic species of coral reefs in the western Atlantic ocean and the Caribbean.
Taxonomy
  • Common name: Batwing coral crab, queen crab
  • French name: Crabe corail
  • Scientific name: Carpilius corallinus (Herbst, 1783)
  • Family name: Carpiliidae
  • Order name: Decapoda
  • Class name: The crustaceans [Malacostraca]
Description
The batwing coral crab has a smooth, rounded carapace that can reach up to about 4 inches wide. Its characteristic coloration ranges from red to orange or even pink, with whitish to cream-colored spots scattered across the top of its shell. Its claws are strong and slightly asymmetrical.
The batwing coral crab displays a distinctive bright coloration that ranges from red to orange, and even pink, with whitish to cream-colored spots
The batwing coral crab displays a distinctive bright coloration that ranges from red to orange, and even pink, with whitish to cream-colored spots
Geographic range
The batwing coral crab is found in the warm tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic ocean, from the coasts of Florida in the north to northern Brazil in the south, including the Bahamas, the Antilles, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea with its many islands such as Guadeloupe.
Habitat
The batwing coral crab is mostly found in coral reefs and rocky bottoms in shallow waters, generally down to about 65 feet deep. It hides during the day under rocks or in reef crevices and comes out at night to feed on prey it encounters along the way. The batwing coral crab moves slowly but effectively across the reef substrate.
Diet
The batwing coral crab is carnivorous and mainly feeds on mollusks such as gastropods and bivalves, smaller crustaceans and sometimes sea urchins. One of its claws is used to crush shells, while the other is used to handle its food.
Reproduction
Mating between the male and female batwing coral crab occurs after the female molts. The eggs are then carried under the female's abdomen until they hatch. The larvae go through several planktonic stages before transforming into juvenile benthic crabs.
The batwing coral crab (Carpilius corallinus)
The batwing coral crab (Carpilius corallinus)
Within the same genus
Convex crab (Carpilius convexus)
Convex crab
(Carpilius convexus)
Seven-eleven crab (Carpilius maculatus)
Seven-eleven crab
(Carpilius maculatus)
Discover also
Decorator arrow crab (Hyastenus bispinosus)
Decorator arrow crab
(Hyastenus bispinosus)
Feather star squat lobster (Allogalathea elegans)
Feather star squat lobster
(Allogalathea elegans)
Green clinging crab (Mithraculus sculptus)
Green clinging crab
(Mithraculus sculptus)
Green porcelain crab (Petrolisthes armatus)
Green porcelain crab
(Petrolisthes armatus)
Mosaic boxer crab (Lybia tessellata)
Mosaic boxer crab
(Lybia tessellata)
Red-spotted guard crab (Trapezia tigrina)
Red-spotted guard crab
(Trapezia tigrina)
Ring-legged fiddler crab (Uca annulipes)
Ring-legged fiddler crab
(Uca annulipes)
Sculptured slipper lobster (Parribacus antarcticus)
Sculptured slipper lobster
(Parribacus antarcticus)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Azure vase sponge (Callyspongia plicifera)
Azure vase sponge
(Callyspongia plicifera)
Blue chromis (Azurina cyanea)
Blue chromis
(Azurina cyanea)
Blue striped grunt (Haemulon sciurus)
Blue striped grunt
(Haemulon sciurus)
Caribbean giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta)
Caribbean giant barrel sponge
(Xestospongia muta)
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Common bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus)
Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)
Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis)
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata)
Graysby
(Cephalopholis cruentata)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

Our latestUpdates

The bump-head sunfish
Friday, September 5th 2025
The bump-head sunfish
Learn about the bump-head sunfish (Mola alexandrini), the world's heaviest bony fish, its habitat in tropical and temperate oceans, diet of jellyfish, deep-water behavior and record size over 6,000 lbs.
The chocolate chip sea cucumber
Wednesday, September 3rd 2025
The chocolate chip sea cucumber
The chocolate chip sea cucumber has a massive cylindrical body that is beige in color, covered with a set of dark brown pustules resembling chocolate chips that protrude slightly from the surface, giving it a resemblance to a cookie, hence its french name. It can reach a length of about 12 inches when fully grown.
The red hind grouper
Monday, September 1st 2025
The red hind grouper
The red hind grouper has a distinctive appearance, usually beige to brown in color, with numerous red or brown spots covering its entire body and the base of its fins. It is often found in the shallow waters of coral reefs and rocky areas, where it hides in crevices and cavities.
Photo of the Day
Mérou croissant de lune (Variola louti)
Mérou croissant de lune
(Variola louti)