Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 5178608
Land Crab
Gecarcinus ruricolaAlso known as Purple Land Crab, Black Land Crab, Red Land Crab, Zombie Crab
Black land crabs are famous for their bold color variations, ranging from dark purple and jet black to vivid red and yellow. Highly adapted to land, these crustaceans dwell in Caribbean coastal forests and limestone hills, sheltering inside deep burrows during the hot hours of the day. Every spring, vast populations participate in dramatic synchronized nocturnal migrations down to the shore to release their eggs into the ocean surf.
TerrestrialCaribbeanNocturnal
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Fallen leaves
- Decomposing fruit
- Plant seedlings
Predators
- Herons and egrets
- Hawks and falcons
- Introduced rats and mongooses
ThreatsHigh mortality on roads during breeding migrations, coastal development, and collection for local food
HabitatsCoastal forests, dry scrub, limestone karsts, and wooded hillsides
Life span10–15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGecarcinidae
- SpeciesGecarcinus ruricola
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Possesses strong claws that deliver a severe pinch; observe without touching.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with strong, crushing claws capable of delivering a painful pinch that can break skin.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by its smooth, high-domed carapace with purple, black, or reddish-yellow highlights.
- What to do
- Do not attempt to pick up wild crabs; observe them from a safe distance.
Responsible observation
- Drive Carefully: Slow down on Caribbean coastal roads during late spring rains when crabs migrate to spawn.
- Keep Distance: Watch forest burrows from a few paces back to avoid scaring them into hiding.
Genus Member 
Close Relative (c) Jay Pruett, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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