Range:
Abundant in the tropical Atlantic, around Florida, the Bahamas, and
the Caribbean. It is found in shallow waters among corals, rocks,
calcareous algae, over sand and in depths of up to 180 m.
Similar Species: The long,
spider-like legs of S. seticornis make it easily identifiable when
compared with other Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico crabs.
Identification: The Yellowline
Arrow Crabs’ coloration is reddish brown on the carapace (shell) and
walking legs, and the claws are a smooth purplish grey. The eight,
spider-like legs can sometimes be three times as long as its body.
This is an extremely small crab species, with a carapace rarely
exceeding 1 cm in width.
Note: S. seticornis are
nocturnal animals that scavenge for food during the nighttime. This
species does not fear divers who try to take photos of them, but can
be quite territorial towards other animals.
back to field guide main page