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
Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus)
Atlantic horseshoe crab
(Limulus polyphemus)
Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
Caribbean spiny lobster
(Panulirus argus)
Humpback prawn (Pandalus montagui)
Humpback prawn
(Pandalus montagui)
Mottled lightfoot crab (Grapsus albolineatus)
Mottled lightfoot crab
(Grapsus albolineatus)
Pearl granulate purse crab (Heteronucia perlata)
Pearl granulate purse crab
(Heteronucia perlata)
Red hermit crab (Dardanus calidus)
Red hermit crab
(Dardanus calidus)
Spotted porcelain crab (Neopetrolisthes maculatus)
Spotted porcelain crab
(Neopetrolisthes maculatus)
Tiger shrimp (Phyllognathia ceratophthalma)
Tiger shrimp
(Phyllognathia ceratophthalma)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
(Epinephelus itajara)
Gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus)
Gray snapper
(Lutjanus griseus)
Honeycomb cowfish (Acanthostracion polygonium)
Honeycomb cowfish
(Acanthostracion polygonium)
Longspined porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus)
Longspined porcupinefish
(Diodon holocanthus)
Redband parrotfish (Sparisoma aurofrenatum)
Redband parrotfish
(Sparisoma aurofrenatum)
Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
Stoplight parrotfish
(Sparisoma viride)
White grunt (Haemulon plumierii)
White grunt
(Haemulon plumierii)
Yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
Yellowhead jawfish
(Opistognathus aurifrons)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

Our latestUpdates

The California sheephead
Thursday, October 2nd 2025
The California sheephead
Discover the California sheephead, a colorful fish of the eastern Pacific. Learn about its appearance, diet, habitat in kelp forests, unique sex-changing ability and role in marine ecosystems.
The banded guitarfish
Monday, September 29th 2025
The banded guitarfish
Discover the banded guitarfish, a benthic eastern Pacific species with unique camouflage, living on sandy and rocky bottoms.
The tiger snake eel
Thursday, September 25th 2025
The tiger snake eel
Explore the tiger snake eel (Myrichthys maculosus), featuring a creamy to pale yellow body dotted with black spots, and learn about its habitat, behavior and role in coral reef ecosystems.
Photo of the Day
Salmacine (Filograna implexa)
Salmacine
(Filograna implexa)