Seafan spider crab - Maldives

I have photographed these several times but never sure of ID. Suspect a species of Xenocarcinus. They are considerably smaller than Xenocarcinus conicus, more cryptic and tend not to move (which is why I have photographed them!).

These were taken at night in the Maldives. In fact I have only photographed them in the Maldives - don't remember looking/finding them elsewhere. Although suspect they are - despite their lack of appearance in the ID books I have here.

Alex

Hi Alex -- I think you may be right. What a well camouflaged little guy! There are currently 7 species in the genus only a few of which are well known to divers and worm girls. It will take an IP crab expert to puzzle this one out for us.

Thanks Leslie!