Christophe Courteau / Velvet swimming crab portrait {Liocarcinus / Necora puber} Brittany France

Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION / Velvet Swimming Crab (Necora puber / Liocarcinus puber), St Abbs (St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve), Berwickshire, Scotland, UK, October, 2011

Graham Eaton / Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) pair mating, Trefor, Wales, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) in a rock pool, hiding among Coralweed (Corallina officinalis), Cornwall, UK, March.

Nick Upton / Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) in rockpool. Near Falmouth, Cornwall, England, UK. September.

Nick Upton / Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) from English Channel. South Devon, England, UK. September.

Sue Daly / Velvet swimming crabs (Necora puber) mate guarding - male guarding female prior to mating Isle of Man, July 2015

Nick Upton / Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) in a rock pool, waving and opening one of its claws in a threat display, Cornwall, England, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) moving off, leaves frame, Cornwall, England, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Two Montagu's crabs (Xantho hydrophilus) competing for a crevice to hide in within a rockpool, with a young Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) moving away nearby, Cornwall, England, UK, September.

Sue Daly / Male Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) guarding female prior to mating, Sark, British Channel Islands, UK, August.

Sue Daly / Male Velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) guarding a female prior to mating, Sark, British Channel Islands, UK, August.