Some kind of Crab?

I have no idea what this thing is. I shot him at night right outside of Buddy Dive in Bonaire a couple of weeks ago. He looked like some slow moving invertebrate at first... but then he started quickly and took me by surprise. From what I could see he had 6 legs that were short and really furry. I think those are pink eggs on its' back.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4075...mp;id=516344592

Thanks for the help!

Do believe what you have photographed is a Nodoose Rubble Crab -Paractaea-rufopunctata.., Have seen them on occasion in Cayman as well.

Neat find.

It's in the Humann-DeLoach Carib critter book as Paractaea rufopunctata but true rufopunctata seem to be restricted to the Indo-Pacific. Different authors classify the caribbean one as subspecies Paractaea rufopunctata nodosa or as a separate species Paractaeae nodosa.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/8411...57619715477653/

The pink areas on the back are just bumps. Without a diver's bright light to show them off the bumps make these crabs look like bits of rubble.

Thanks for the replies!! These crabs are really cool and unique.

It's in the Humann-DeLoach Carib critter book as Paractaea rufopunctata but true rufopunctata seem to be restricted to the Indo-Pacific. Different authors classify the caribbean one as subspecies Paractaea rufopunctata nodosa or as a separate species Paractaeae nodosa.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/8411...57619715477653/

 

The pink areas on the back are just bumps. Without a diver's bright light to show them off the bumps make these crabs look like bits of rubble.