old-man's face crab
VU

old-man's face crab

Atelecyclus rotundatus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atelecyclus_rotundatus

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The old-man's face crab faces significant pressure from commercial bottom trawling activities that disturb its sandy and muddy seabed habitats across the Northeast Atlantic. Climate change is altering ocean temperatures and currents, potentially affecting the species' distribution and reproductive cycles. Coastal development and marine pollution, particularly from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, degrade the water quality in shallow coastal areas where juveniles develop.

Threat summary

Habitat

The old-man's face crab inhabits sandy and muddy substrates on the continental shelf, typically at depths ranging from 20 to 400 meters. It prefers areas with soft sediments where it can burrow and feed on benthic invertebrates, mollusks, and organic detritus.

MARINE· major

Threatened in Belgium

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Anthophore estivaleCR

Anthophore estivale

Anthophora aestivalis

Unknown
Adonis BlueVU

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

Unknown
agnhodeedderkoppCR

agnhodeedderkopp

Walckenaeria alticeps

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is old-man's face crab classified as Vulnerable?
old-man's face crab is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The old-man's face crab faces significant pressure from commercial bottom trawling activities that disturb its sandy and muddy seabed habitats across the Northeast Atlantic. Climate change is altering ocean temperatures and currents, potentially affecting the species' distribution and reproductive cycles. Coastal development and marine pollution, particularly from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, degrade the water quality in shallow coastal areas where juveniles develop.
Where does old-man's face crab live?
old-man's face crab occurs in Belgium, Cape Verde, Croatia, Denmark, France, and Gabon (plus 21 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to old-man's face crab?
The main threats to old-man's face crab are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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