Carapace of a Velvet Swimmer Crab, Necora puber

A 3D-scanned, anatomically labelled carapace of a velvet swimmer crab *Necora puber* found in Falmouth Bay, with mandibles and eyestalks still attached. Renowned for their feisty behaviour, velvet swimmers - so named for a velvet-like covering of secae on their shells - are perhaps one of the more beautiful crabs found on UK shores, sporting bright, blood-red eyes and subtle streaks of violet blue on their legs and around their carapaces. They are active predators that will chase motile prey, feeding on a variety of invertebrates including other crabs, as well as small fish. Crab mandibles are usually well hidden by maxillipeds and other mouthparts. However, this carapace was found with only the mandibles attached, and so the mandibular morphology can be clearly seen. This carapace measures 7cm across from the tips of the 4th antero-lateral teeth, and measures 5.3cm long from the rostrum to the posterior margin.