5 photos - 3 species
Calappa gallus
Rough box crab, Lumpy box crab, Poki poki, Yellow Box crab
or Knobby box crab
Maximum size: 4 - 8 cm
Depth: 1 - 15 m
Rough carapace, with edges and knots, front with typical depressed area.
Pale yellow, brown or orange with dark spots on top of the claws and on the front of the carapace.
They are found on the sand, where they are often so deeply buried that only the small eyes can be seen.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Calappa hepatica
Smooth box crab, Poki poki or Long-eyed box crab
Maximum size: 8 - 12 cm
Depth: 1 - 150 m
They hide behind their claws, which function like can openers.
They use them to crack open snails.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North - Sulawesi
Photo 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North - Sulawesi
Calappa sulcata
Yellow box crab
Maximum size: 14.5 cm
Maximum depth: 3 - 200 m
They got the name Calappa because they hide behind their ‘claws’.
These are special tools used to crack snails and mussels.
Colour: Pink and beige to dark brown.
Body: the carapace is oval, wider than longer.
Bury themselves quickly in the sand when approached.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean