Whilst complete crabs, or their carapaces, are extremely scarce in all but the sandy chalk of the southwest, the remains of their appendages can be found with tolerable frequency.  These are more common in the Grey Chalk, but can also be found in the White Chalk.  Small, isolated fingers are most commonly encountered, whilst persistent collecting in the Grey Chalk will eventually yield whole chelipeds.  A typical selection of specimens are shown below.

A

B

1).  Isolated right cheliped; (A), (B) different views (both x3, near Cow Gap, Eastbourne (L. R. Strevens collection), Grey Chalk).     

A

B

 2).  Isolated right cheliped; (A), (B) different views (both x3, near Cow Gap, Eastbourne (L. R. Strevens collection), Grey Chalk).

3). (A) A pair of claws, one missing its fingers (x3.1, Biss Bottom, Upton, Scudmore, Wiltshire, Grey Chalk, Fred Clouter Collection (ex. Tony Lee Collection), image courtesy of Fred Clouter); (B) Isolated right cheliped (x6, Grey Chalk, Southerham, Lewes, Sussex, Randell Collection).

4).  This solitary right cheliped almost certainly belongs to an undescribed genus and species, perhaps some form of hermit crab (x3.5, Friar's Bay, Peacehaven, Sussex, Newhaven Chalk Formation, Old Nore Beds, Randell Collection, RR1675).

A

B

5).  Details of an isolated right cheliped, almost certainly belonging to an undescribed genus and species (x8.0, Friar's Bay, Peacehaven, Sussex, Newhaven Chalk Formation, Old Nore Beds, Randell Collection, RR1675); (A) outer surface of pincer; (B) inner surface of pincer.4).

A

B

C

6).  These isolated dactyls are probably assignable to the Brachyura.  (A) x8, Grey Chalk, Culver Cliff, Isle of Wight, (B) x7, Grey Chalk, near Cow Gap, Eastbourne, (C) x15, Grey Chalk, Southerham, Lewes.  Randell Collection (A) RR1302, (B) RR0217, (C) RR0771.

A	B
	C

7).  Isolated dactyl (Grey Chalk, near Cow Gap, Eastbourne); (A) Detail showing the surface ornament (x14); (B), (C) Different views (both x5).  Randell Collection, RR0661.