Subject: not a fruit fly
Location: Toledo District, Belize
September 20, 2014 3:29 pm
Hi, folks,
Just sending this along for fun; thought you might get a kick out of it.
My kitchen is open air and we get plenty of critters, but this was a first.
Signature: Tanya
Blue Land Crab
Hi Tanya,
What a pretty little Fiddler Crab, and what a poser. The Smithsonian has a nice article on Fiddler Crabs.
Hello, Daniel,
Glad you liked the photo. But it’s not a fiddler crab. It’s a blue land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) also known as duppy. They get very large (“huge” says my Peterson Field Guide). The one in the picture is a small, young animal. When the mating season is on, they run in large numbers. Their claws are capable of puncturing vehicle tires which is a hazard when they cross roads in swampy areas. They are very tasty and are a much-prized delicacy in Belize.
I’m having lots of fun (and learning plenty) reading through the archives of WTB. What a terrific job you and your small staff are doing. Plenty of stars in your crowns.
Regards,
Tanya
Thanks for both the compliment and the correction Tanya.
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