
Today we start the week off with this smiley shore crab from Jamaica. This crab made me realize just how many different creatures are decorated with white spots and lines (one of which is the whale shark, click here for post). People tend not to pay too much attention to crabs unless they can eat them, they are however fascinating to watch. These shore crabs may look like they have thin spindly legs, but they are fantastic at holding on even when the rocks are getting pummeled with waves. They eat just about anything and everything including any animals that are sick or dead, but they also eat worms, barnacles, clams, mussels, snails and algae. Their biggest fear are sea gulls especially when the crabs are malting (because their new shell is still a bit soft), which explains why they are so quick to scurry to safety under a rock ledge if you startle them. Thankfully this one was quite willing to pose for my photos.
I didn’t know that crabs were garbage eaters, the “vultures of the deep” but he sure is a pretty little guy. Wonderful photo Laura!
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Thanks Margaret, hope you had a colorful weekend. Crabs definitely are the ‘vultures of the sea,’ great analogy!
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I knew very little about crabs, thank you for sharing the info Laura. You photographed a beautiful model!
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Thanks Greta, I don’t think crabs get the attention they deserve, they can be very colorful and very pretty!
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This would make a great Halloween costume.
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I’d love to see that!
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