Size: Carapace length: 1cm (0.4") Carapace width: 1.5cm (0.6").

Recognition Characters: Carapace thinly covered on anterior 2/3 with long, fine hair. Upper surface of chelipeds and walking legs similarly clothed. Anterolateral border with 4 spines including small outer orbital. Chelipeds unequal, spinose, and granulate except for smooth and naked lower distal 2/3 of outer surface of major palm. Spines and granules not arranged in rows on upper part of major palm.

Color: Body and claws brownish-red, legs lighter. Fingers and extremities of spines brown.

Habitat & Depth: Can be found intertidally on rocks, jetties, and piers. Offshore the crab inhabits sponges and corals on reefs

Distribution at GRNMS: Occassional. Found inside or under sponges, tunicates, bryozoans. Commonly clings to Schizoporella floridana

Geographic Range: North Carolina south to Brazil. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

Behavior & Notes: This species is not as common as P. sayi. Although juveniles may be confused with P. sayi. The spines and tubercles of the major palm in P. sayi are arranged more or less in rows and encroach on the lower half of the distal end.

Synonyms:

References: Williams 1984