A crab I found on the coast of Islamorada, Florida. I think it might be a European Green Crab, but I’m not positive.

Backyard Creature Of The Week:

The rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, is a large, aggressive species of freshwater crayfish which is native to the U.S. states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Its range is rapidly expanding in North America, displacing native crayfishes in the process: it is known to have reached New England, Ontario, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even Manitoba. The rusty crayfish was first captured in Illinois in 1973, and has been collected at over 20 locations in the northern portion of the state. Rusty crayfish eat small fish, insects, and fish eggs. They also eat aquatic vegetation, damaging underwater habitat that is important for fish spawning, cover, and food. Females lay from 80-575 eggs!

Some pistol shrimp species share burrows with goby fishes in a symbiotic relationship. The burrow is built and tended by the pistol shrimp, and the goby provides protection by watching out for danger. When both are out of the burrow, the shrimp maintains contact with the goby using its antenna. The goby, having the better vision, alerts the shrimp of danger using a characteristic tail movement, and then both retreat into the safety of the shared burrow. So far this association has been observed in species that inhabit coral reef habitats. (Wiki.)

Alpheidae is a family of caridean snapping shrimp characterized by having asymmetrical claws, the larger of which is typically capable of producing a loud snapping sound. Other common names of these species include pistol shrimp or alpheid shrimp. The snapping shrimp grows to only 1–2 inches (3–5 cm) long. It is distinctive for its remarkably disproportionate large claw, larger than half the shrimp’s body. The claw can be on either arm of the body, and unlike most shrimp claws does not have pincers at the end. Rather, it has a pistol-like feature made of two parts. A joint allows the “hammer” part to move backward into a right-angled position. When released, it snaps into the other part of the claw, emitting an enormously powerful wave of bubbles capable of stunning larger fish and breaking small glass jars. The snap creates a cavitation bubble that generates acoustic pressures of up to 80 kPa at a distance of 4 cm from the claw. As it extends out from the claw, the bubble reaches speeds of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and releases a sound reaching 218 decibels. (Wiki.)

The arrow crab, is a species of marine crab. The body of the arrow crab is triangular, and the rostrum is drawn out into a long point with serrate edges. The legs are also long and thin, up to 10 cm (3.9 in) across, and the animal’s carapace may be up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long. Colouration is variable in this species: the body may be golden, yellow or cream, marked with brown, black or iridescent blue lines; the legs are reddish or yellow, and the claws are blue or violet. It is nocturnal and territorial. It eats small feather duster worms and other coral reef invertebrates. They are commonly kept in reef aquariums to control bristle worm population.(Wiki.)

PHOTO BY: Nick Hobgood

Christmas Island Red Crabs

Once a year, on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, millions of Red Crabs migrate from their burrows in the rainforests to the water in hopes of mating. In response to seasonal rains and the moon, these crustaceans make the trek of almost 4 miles to the ocean to mate and release eggs into the surf. The mass migration takes over the towns and the roads, as these crabs will stop at nothing to continue the circle of life. About a month after the initial migration, the offspring that has survived the larval stages begin their trek from the ocean all the way back to the rainforests.

Ghost Crab

Hinge-Beak Durban Shrimp

thebeautyofblue:

Land Crab