[1] Ebalia tumefacta is a small, roughly diamond-shaped crab, with noticeably bulbous branchial regions.

The carapace is wider than it is long, and has minute bumps, giving it a somewhat rough texture.

Although some may have a variegated brown and black carapace, it usually ranges from reddish to greyish-white or yellowish-grey.

Sometimes it may have red spots, and occasionally may contain an orange margin and a pale pink median band.

[2] This species is found from West Africa to Norway, and is especially common around the British Isles;[4] it does not occur in the Mediterranean Sea.