Neolithodes indicus
Neolithodes indicus is a species of king crab found in the southeastern Arabian Sea.
Description
Neolithodes indicus has a pyriform carapace whose dorsal surface is heavily populated with small spinules inbetween major, conical spines; at the longest in one of its female paratypes, it has been measured at in length and in width. Its rostrum is about 3–10% as long as the postorbital carapace in large specimens. Like the carapace, its chelipeds and walking legs are covered in small spinules, and its rear walking legs – which are the longest – have four major spines. The chelipeds and walking legs are lighter in colouration than the carapace, however, which is a clay-like reddish-brown. Its chelae have several small spines and are lined with rows of golden setae.On the underside, its short, cylindrical fifth set of legs are tucked under its abdomen and covered in bristles. Except for the first segment which is sparsely populated with tubercles, the abdomen is covered in numerous evenly spaced spinules. The median and submedian plates of the second segment of its abdomen bear large spines, as do the margins of the second through fifth segments.