Cardus crucifer

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Cardus crucifer is a blind, deep-water crustacean that lives in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the only species in its genus Cardus. Unlike most related species, it has four pairs of claws in both males and females.

The name Cardus comes from the spiny thistle Carduus, reflecting its thorny-looking carapace. It belongs to the Polychelidae family.

Taxonomy (overview):
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Malacostraca
- Order: Decapoda
- Suborder: Pleocyemata
- Family: Polychelidae
- Genus: Cardus
- Species: crucifer
- Binomial name: Cardus crucifer (Thomson, 1873)
- Synonyms: Deidamia crucifer; Polycheles crucifer

Distribution and habitat:
- Found in the eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Morocco, around the Azores and Canary Islands
- Also recorded in the Bahamas, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico
- Lives at depths of about 550–2,200 meters (1,800–7,220 feet)

Conservation:
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)