Nephropides caribaeus is a species of lobster, the only species in the genus Nephropides. It is found in western parts of the Caribbean Sea, from Belize to Colombia. It grows to a total length of around 170mm, and is covered in conspicuous tubercles.
Nephropides caribaeus is a narrow lobster, resembling Nephropsis or Nephrops. Adults of N. caribaeus are typically 155- in total length, or 51mm58mm in carapace length.[1] It differs from Nephropsis in that the eyes contain pigment, which is lacking in Nephropsis.[1] The rostrum has 2–3 lateral spines, but no spines on the lower edge.[1] The whole body is covered in large tubercles, including the first pereiopods with their large chelae, and the other, smaller pereiopods.[1]
Nephropides caribaeus is found in the western Caribbean Sea, and has been recorded from Belize to Colombia. It is a deep-water species, living on muddy bottoms at depths of 455-.
The genus Nephropides and the species N. caribaeus were both erected in 1969 by Raymond B. Manning. A second species later described in the genus has since been transferred to Thymops as Thymops birsteini.[2] The Food and Agriculture Organization has assigned the species an English name of "mitten lobsterette".[3] The type locality is at 12.4167°N -97°W, off the coast of Nicaragua, at a depth of 546-.[3] The generic name Nephropides alludes to a close relationship with the genus Nephrops, while the specific epithet Latin: caribaeus is a reference to the Caribbean Sea.[1]