Cardisoma guanhumi

Cardisoma guanhumi, also known as the blue land crab, is a species of land crab found in tropical and subtopical estuaries and other maritime areas of land along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, in the United States along the Gulf of Mexico, from Brazil and Colombia, through the Caribbean, to the Bahamas, and as far north as Sebastian, Florida. The species varies in colour from dark blue to brown or pale grey, and may grow to 11 centimetres (4.3 in) in width and weigh over 500 grams (18 oz).

Description

The carapace of C. guanhumi can reach sizes up to around 11 cm (4.3 in) and individuals can reach sizes of up to 35 cm (14 in). As with many crab species, males possess dimorphic claws: the larger claw can grow up to around 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, eventually becoming larger than the carapace itself. The eyes are stalked and their colour ranges from a deep blue to a pale grey. Juveniles generally have a brown carapace with orange coloured legs. Females usually appear light gray or white. Adult colours are usually present between 80 g (2.8 oz) and 180 g (6.3 oz). Individuals of the species can weigh over 500 g (18 oz).