Halloween crab
| Halloween crab | ||||||||||||
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Halloween crab ( Gecarcinus ruricola ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Gecarcinus ruricola | ||||||||||||
| Linnaeus , 1758 |
The Halloween crab ( Gecarcinus ruricola ) is one of the land crabs that live mainly in the vegetation near beaches. Proximity to the sea is crucial for reproduction. The Halloween crab is native to the Caribbean , but is often also kept in aquaterrariums because of its striking color .
features
The Halloween crabs owe their name to their strange coloring. Your carapace is dark brown to black on the upper side, but has two bright orange eye spots near the eyes. These spots could act as a deterrent in nature. There is also an elongated, orange-colored spot between the eyes. The rounded, oval, convex shape of their shell, which is characteristic of the Gecariniden, is reminiscent of a pumpkin with its furrows on the top. All of these features combine to create the image of a little Halloween pumpkin for someone who suddenly comes across the crab .
The legs and the lower to middle body area of the Halloween crab are orange to red in color. On the scissors or the tips of the scissors, the color changes to white.
distribution
Gecarcinus ruricola (Linnaeus, 1758) occurs mainly in the southern Caribbean from the Lesser Antilles to Nicaragua , but not in the Gulf of Mexico . Individual populations are found further north in Florida , northern Cuba and the Bahamas .
It occurs almost exclusively in wooded habitats . In contrast to most other land crabs, it does not dig deep burrows, but during the day seeks protection in crevices, burrows and other structures suitable for retreat with little need to dig.
This land crab is quite common in its range and is also eaten by the inhabitants of the coastal areas.
However, Gecarcinus ruricola avoids exposed areas such as human settlements or areas used for agriculture. The growing population in the Caribbean has resulted in a decrease in the suitable habitats for this land crab, causing its populations to decline.
literature
- Joseph C. Britton, Glenn C. Kroh, Charles Golightly: Biometric and Ecological Relationships in Two Sympatric Caribbean Gecarcinidae (Crustacea: Decapoda) . In: Journal of Crustacean Biology , Volume 2, Number 2, 1982, pp. 207-222.
