🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

The blue land crab is also sometimes referred to as the giant land crab and is the largest species of semi-terrestrial crabs in Florida. Although they are called the “giant” land crab, their carapace will only reach about 6 inches (0.15 meters) in diameter.

These crabs change color as they age, beginning life as a dark brown, purple, or orange coloration. As they age, their color will change to a blue-grey color. Like many crabs, one of their pincers is larger than the other.

Blue land crabs prefer warmer waters and can be found throughout the Bermuda region, the Caribbean sea, up to Texas, and southern Florida. Although these crabs live on land, they are semi-terrestrial and are not often found more than five miles off the coast. Instead, they prefer to live in low-lying areas of coastal regions.

Living most of their life on land, blue land crabs need water to drink and to breed. Besides these instances, these land crabs remain on land, creating burrows several feet deep to live in.

Unlike many crabs, these land crabs are mostly vegetarian. Rather than feeding on animal matter like most crabs, they prefer to feast on leaves, berries, flowers, fruit, and vegetables.