Neolithodes asperrimus, also known as the rough stone crab,[2][3] is a species of king crab native to the west coast of Africa.[4][5]
Description
Neolithodes asperrimus has a dark red carapace, chelipeds, and walking legs, and its largest spines are typically bright red.[6] It is covered in an even distribution of many large spines and small spicules.[7] Males grow up to 195mm (7.7in) in length and up to 189mm (7.4in) in width.[6] In females, this is 180mm (7.1in) and 156mm (6.1in), respectively, and ovigerous females are known to be 133mm (5.2in) or longer.[6] Its rostrum usually extends beyond its eyes except in very large individuals.[6] Its abdomen is covered with many spinules or spine-like granules, and the median plate of its second segment bears several well-developed spines.[6]
↑de Matos-Pita, Ramil & Ramos 2018, p.5: "Neolithodes asperrimus showed the highest occurrence in the area, being collected from 45 stations distributed evenly along the entire Mauritanian coast between 997 and 1862 m depth."
Muñoz, Isabel; García-Isarch, Eva (11 June 2013). "New occurrences of lithodid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae) from the coasts of Africa, with the description of a new species of Paralomis White, 1856". Zootaxa. 3670 (1): 45–54. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3670.1. PMID26438920.
