Gecarcinus quadratus (Violet Land Crab)

land crab · Central America · climbing · semi-terrestrial

Strikingly colorful. Gecarcinus quadratus is famous for its beautiful violet, purple, and blue coloring that makes it stand out on the dark rainforest floor of Central and South America.

Climbs high in trees. Unlike most crabs, this species is an excellent climber and regularly scales trees to hunt for food, find water, and escape predators on the ground.

Lives on land mostly. These crabs are semi-terrestrial, meaning they spend most of their lives out of water in humid rainforests, though they need to keep their gills moist to breathe.

Once thought the same. Scientists used to think Gecarcinus quadratus was just a variation of another crab species called Gecarcinus lateralis, but now they recognize them as two completely different species.

Eats plants and insects. These omnivorous crabs munch on fallen fruit, leaves, insects, and decomposing matter on the rainforest floor, helping break down dead material in their ecosystem.