Chaceon atopus

Chaceon atopus is a species of crab. This species resembles C. gordonae, from the Cape Verde Islands and Sierra Leone, in many features: its large size, well-developed frontal and

anterolateral teeth on the carapace, and compressed dactyli of the walking legs. It

differs from C. gordonae in having much longer walking legs, with the merus more than 6 times longer than high, and in its habitat. Chaceon gordonae generally occurs in depths in excess of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), C. atopus occurs in less than 250 metres (820 ft). The species can be distinguished on sight from C. sanctaehelenae by the long, slender walking legs, the distal meral spine on the walking legs, and the well-developed anterolateral spines of the carapace.

Chaceon atopus is named after Greek atopos, meaning “atypical”, referring to the scientists' reaction after seeing its distinct appearance when compared to C. sanctaehelenae.