Biodiversity & Conservation

Circular crab - Atelecyclus rotundatus

Atelecyclus rotundatus

Image Keith Hiscock - Atelecyclus rotundatus on the east coast of Lundy.
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Distribution map

Atelecyclus rotundatus recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Atelecyclus rotundatus is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Arthropoda Arthropods, joint-legged animals, e.g. insects, crustaceans & spiders
Class Malacostraca Crabs, lobsters, sand hoppers and sea slaters
Authority Olivi, 1792
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland This is a common species with records throughout the British Isles.
Habitat information icon Habitat information This species can be found from the shallow sublittoral down to >300 m depth off shore. It can be on sand or gravel substrates.
Text page icon Description Atelecyclus rotundatus has a reddish-brown carapace, light brown limbs, and black claws (chelae). This species has an almost circular carapace, up to 5 cm in diameter. The carapace bears short transverse, granular grooves on its upper surface and very hairy margins. There are 9-11 sharp teeth on the front and side margins of the carapace and 3 teeth between the eyes, central one being distinctly longer than the other two. Its chelipeds are robust and equal in size, with males having two large tubercules on the upper surface of the propodus. The legs (pereiopods) are slightly flattened with hairy margins. This species also has a long second antenna.
Identifying features
  • Reddish-brown, almost circular carapace up to 5 cm in diameter.
  • Light brown limbs and black chelae.
  • Carapace and limb margins are very hairy.
  • Three teeth between the eyes, central one distinctly longer.
  • Long second antenna.
Additional information icon Additional information Atelecyclus rotundatus bears eggs from February to September with planktonic larvae present from February to November. This species is eaten by Gadus morhua and Raja spp. Atelecyclus rotundatus may also be mistaken for the less common Atelecyclus undecimdentatus. But Atelecyclus undecimdendatus has a much broader carapace and coarser granulations than Atelecyclus rotundatus. The thumbnail crab, Thia scutellata is also similar, but lacks teeth on the front of its carapace.

Interestingly, Atelecyclus rotundatus buries itself by digging backwards into the substrata, and reverses its respiratory water flow through its branchial chambers to prevent suffocation (Tayor, 1984). In order to maintain sufficient respiratory currents, this species (akin to Carcinus maenas, Cancer pagurus, Crangon crangon, Bathynectes longipes, Corystes cassivelaunus for example) holds its chelipeds close to its body creating a respiratory channel with the larger second antenna. Taylor (1984) noted that when burried, its gill bailer (scaphognathite) beats in the opposite direction to normal, pumping water out at the base of the limbs instead of drawing water in.

This review can be cited as follows:

Sonia Rowley 2007. Atelecyclus rotundatus. Circular crab. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2674>