It lives in shallow, turbulent waters in sandy areas of the tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

In common with other species of Albunea,[2] it has a quadrangular carapace with a concave rear edge, and flattened legs, which it uses for digging in sand.

[5] By the third zoea instar, the pereiopods begin to show as small buds, and uropods are present alongside the broad telson.

[5] Albunea carabus is found on parts the African coast of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is the only mole crab.

[9] Albunea carabus typically lives slightly offshore, at depths of 3–40 m (10–131 ft),[6] in sandy environments where the water is very turbid.