At first glance at this image, you’d be forgiven for thinking that some joker had stuck a pair of googly eyes on a crab .
But the bulging eyes were actually a real feature on the ancient species of crab, which swam the seas around 95 million years ago.
Scientists from Yale University have discovered the remains of the new species, which they’ve named Callichimaera perplex.
According to the researchers, the crab had an ‘unusual and cute’ appearance, including large eyes with no sockets, bent claws, leg-like mouth parts, an exposed tail and a long body.
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Javier Luque, who led the study, said: “Callichimaera perplexa is so unique and strange that it can be considered the platypus of the crab world.
“It hints at how novel forms evolve and become so disparate through time.
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“Usually we think of crabs as big animals with broad carapaces, strong claws, small eyes in long eyestalks, and a small tail tucked under the body.
“Well, Callichimaera defies all of these 'crabby' features and forces a re-think of our definition of what makes a crab a crab."
