Atelecyclus rotundatus

{{Short description|Species of crab}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Atelecyclus_rotundatus.jpg

| genus = Atelecyclus

| species = rotundatus

| authority = (Olivi, 1792)

| synonyms_ref =  {{cite journal |journal=Raffles Bulletin of Zoology |year=2008 |volume=17 |pages=1–286 |title=Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world |author=Peter K. L. Ng |author2=Danièle Guinot |author3=Peter J. F. Davie |name-list-style=amp |url=http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s17/s17rbz.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=2010-01-16 |archive-date=2011-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606061453/http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s17/s17rbz.pdf |url-status=dead }}

| synonyms =

• Cancer rotundatus Olivi, 1792
• Cancer septemdentatus Montagu, 1813
• Atelecyclus heterodon Leach, 1815

}}

Atelecyclus rotundatus is a medium-sized crab found on the west coast of Europe and Africa as well as almost all the Mediterranean Sea and on the Cape Verde and Canary islands.{{cite web |author=Sonia Rowley |year=2007 |title=Atelecyclus rotundatus. Circular crab |work=Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme |publisher=Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |accessdate=January 16, 2010 |url=http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2674}} It has many common names, including circular crab, round crab and old man's face crab. It measures about {{convert|40|mm|in}} across its almost circular, reddish-brown carapace and lives on coarse soft bottoms at shallow depths. There are 9–11 sharp teeth on the front and 3 teeth between the eyes.

This crab is sometimes mistaken for the more common Atelecyclus undecimdentatus. However, Atelecyclus undecimdentatus can be distinguished by its wider carapace and coarser granulations.{{cite web|url=http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2674 |title=The Marine Life Information Network |publisher=MarLIN |date= |accessdate=2012-07-18}}