Top 10 Types of Crabs Crawling Florida’s Beaches
Atlantic Ghost Crab :The Atlantic ghost crab is one of around 20 unique species of ghost crabs, which get their common collective name from their nocturnal nature and typically pale, ghostly gray coloration.
Sand Fiddler Crab:The sand fiddler crab is one of around 100 unique species of fiddler crabs. Male fiddler crabs always have one claw that is much larger than the other.
Mangrove Tree Crab: the mangrove tree crab is a skilled climber that mainly inhabits mangrove trees along Florida’s coastlines. It’s also one of the Sunshine State’s smallest crabs, averaging just under an inch long.
Atlantic Mole Crab:The Atlantic mole crab is perhaps better known to Florida locals as the sand flea for its small size and flea-like body shape. It’s one of Florida’s smallest crabs, typically only reaching an inch long at most.
Blue Land Crab:The blue land crab gets its name from the color of its carapace, which can vary in color from a vibrant royal blue to pale gray.
Calico Crab :The calico crab is known by a few common names, including the leopard crab, due to its unique leopard-like spots adorning its carapace.
Red-Jointed Fiddler Crab:The red-jointed fiddler crab is abundant throughout Florida’s salt marshes. Interestingly, they tend to avoid waters with high salinity.
Florida Stone Crab:The Florida stone crab is one of Florida’s most popular and well-known crabs, mainly due to its claws being a popular and delicious food source!
Jonah Crab:the Jonah crab has long been considered to be something of a pest, as it is often caught as a bycatch in fisheries’ lobster traps.
Jonah Crab:the Jonah crab has long been considered to be something of a pest, as it is often caught as a bycatch in fisheries’ lobster traps.