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Land Crab

Gecarcinus quadratus

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9.14303, -83.7295

Field Notes

Description:

This nocturnal crab digs burrows — sometimes as long as 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) — in the coastal rainforests of Central America, and is common along the coasts of Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. There it lives in the forest at least some of its adult life, but needs to return to the ocean to breed. The halloween crab is very territorial and will defend itself if threatened. It is largely herbivorous, and consumes leaf litter and seedlings. They will, however, also take animal matter if available.(wikipedia)

Habitat:

Rainforest along shore

Notes:

We believe that these crabs can play the same roll of the earthworm, for help in the decomposition of organic material, benefiting the soil fertilization.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Colours of Central America..!!
Una foto muy buena, los colores son impresionantes.

Spotted for Missions

Photographed
PublishedMay 29, 2011

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