Habitat: This species is fairly common in habitats such as coral reefs, crevices of corals, and nodules of coralline algae. However, it is rarely found in sponges and bryozoans. Distribution: A. cristulifrons has been reported from the waters of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Caribbean to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Natural History Notes: Alpheus cristulifrons is closely related to the two Alpheus species, A. utriensis and A. xanthocarpus. It differs from A. utriensis by the presence of smaller spots and non-banded antennal flagella and differs from A. xanthocarpus by the absence of yellow spots on the carpus of the second pereiopod. Depth: Present in the intertidal zone, to a depth of about 10 m. Characteristics: Alpheus cristulifrons has a body length of up to 20 mm.