Pseudoliomera speciosa, commonly known as the Showy Xanthid Crab, belongs to the family Xanthidae. Its carapace measures up to 2 cm (0.8 inches) and is characterized by an ornate texture, densely covered with large, pearl-like granules. Dense, dark bristles are present between these granules. A notable feature is the distinct presence of bristles around the hardened dactyl of its first walking leg. The crab's coloration is typically pale with prominent orange patches.
This crab primarily inhabits branching corals, particularly those from the Stylophora genus, but can also be found amongst other coral species. It occurs across the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the 🌊 Red Sea and the coast of 🇿🇦 South Africa to the southern Pacific islands, including Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States) and 🇯🇵 Japan. Young crabs develop through a larval stage known as "zoea" before reaching adulthood. The species was first described in 1852 as Actaeodes speciosus and later known as Actaea speciosa until its reclassification to the Pseudoliomera genus in 1969.
