Attack of the Crabs! 9 things you didn’t know about Costa Rica’s land crabs.
For about two or three days each year in early July, crabs are everywhere. Thousands of red and purple carapaces and gigantic claws swarm Tamarindo’s shorelines in a mass exodus.
They click and clack around the beaches, roads and even parking lots. The Tamarindo estuary overflows with them. And these aren’t just any ordinary crabs — they are huge, angry-looking creatures the size of a small melon.
So what are these things, and where do they come from? Here are 9 things I bet you didn’t know about land crabs in Costa Rica.
- This species is a nocturnal burrowing crab that exists all year round; but they come out en masse during the day for a few days per year to mate.
- Their average lifespan is about 11 years (which is surprising, considering how many end up smashed on the side of the road). They reach sexual maturity after about 4 years.
- If you’re wondering if you can eat them, the answer is yes (at least according to local beachcombers). Many Costa Ricans who have grown up in Guanacaste swear they taste delicious if prepared correctly.
- These land crabs live most of their adult lives in mangroves and wet forests, burrowed within tunnels 3-5 inches wide and up to 5-feet deep.
- They can be found as far as 5 miles away from the ocean.
- Land crabs are mostly vegetarian. They subsist mainly on seeds, fruit, berries, leaves and vegetable matter (although they’ll occasionally snack on small insects).
- Younger crabs are more vibrant in color. Older crabs look more dull and grey. Females tend to be less vibrant than males.
- Apparently, in some circles these unique-looking creatures are captured and kept as pets. They can be purchased for about $20 a piece.
- While I could not find an exact species for this particular crab, they are likely related to what are known as “Halloween crabs,” or “tajalines” here in Costa Rica. The specimens seen in Tamarindo are probably closely related to the species Gecarcinus quadratus . (Note that the crabs in here in Guanacaste have white claws, while Geocarcinus quadratus is typically pictured as having purple claws.)
Photo credits:Genna Marie of Tamarindo Family Photos
Attack of the Crabs! 9 things you didn’t know about Costa Rica’s land crabs.
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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Great piece in carb. Found one in our kitchen in La
Cruz
Hi there, great pics and article! I just wanted to point out one small detail — while Gecarcinus quadratus (Halloween Crabs) are also often found in this area, the species pictured here is actually Cardisoma guanhumi, more commonly known as the Blue Land Crab. They are closely related to the African Rainbow Crab (Cardisoma armatum) that is often found in the pet trade, and indeed some people also keep Blue Land Crabs as pets although they can get quite large and demanding with age.
These crabs are commonly confused with Gecarcinus quadratus, probably since they are both really colorful terrestrial species and share the same general range in the wild. I just wanted to make a small note of this in the event that anyone stumbles across this article in the course of a search for information about land crabs that they might be caring for. I’m far from an expert, but I do have a fair amount of experience caring for terrestrial crabs and I know how difficult it can be to root out accurate information on them.
I have a great love for species of the Cardisoma genus in particular, so in case there is anyone out there looking for resources and help in caring for them, feel free to email me at caesarcrab@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to assist.
Thank you for publishing this article and bringing attention to these very unique and intriguing crab species!