Actaeodes tomentosus

Actaeodes tomentosus is a small marine creature measuring about 2 cm (0.8 inches) in size. It features a smooth opaque violet carapace adorned with distinctive red dots near its eyes. This species is found primarily in tropical waters across the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from East Africa to the 🇵🇭 Philippines. Actaeodes tomentosus is a benthic animal, meaning it lives on the sea floor. It inhabits depths from the intertidal zone down to 100 meters (328 feet), but is most commonly found between 0 to 6 meters (0 to 20 feet) underwater.

It can be found within crevices of rocks and on coral reefs, both in intertidal and subtidal zones. Actaeodes tomentosus belongs to the order Decapoda, which comprises mostly gonochoric species, meaning they have distinct male and female individuals. Their mating behavior often includes a precopulatory courtship ritual that relies on both olfactory and tactile cues, and they typically practice indirect sperm transfer.

Actaeodes tomentosus is poisonous to consume, and therefore, is not safe for eating.