Distribution: Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific region. In Australia recorded from the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, south to northern New South Wales and including Lord Howe Island. 

Ecological Notes: Commonly observed at low tide on reef flats in tide pools and under stones. 

Additional Notes: Easily identified by the blue banded eye stalks and the dark brown and white cheliped. When withdrawn completely into its shell it effectively seals the entrance with the largest of its chelipeds, see second photograph. A small species easily overlooked, it grows to a maximum shield length of around 12 mm, total length 40 mm.

References: Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=calcinus+laevimanus. Accessed 12/11/2018.

Poupin J. and M. Juncker, 2010 – A guide to the decapod crustaceans of the South Pacific. Published by CRISP and SPC, Noumea, New Caledonia. Pp.132-3.