Indo-Pacific Crustacean Grapsus Tenuicrustatus
Eye catching crab about 8cm wide, with descriptive English name natal sally-light-foot crab detailing exceptionally well how fast they move across the rocks, hang onto rock faces against fierce tides along this shoreline.
Mission Rocks situated on our North Eastern coastline, a pleasure spending time watching these crabs scuttling under/over the rocks sourcing food continuously.
Adult Natal Rock Crabs are carnivorous living in inter-tidal zone as seen in photographs with rock-pools surrounding one, solitary although many seen moving around.
Females contain a 'purse' beneath to carry eggs, dropping off larvae numbering up to a hundred at a time in calm water where they hatch within three weeks after fertilization takes place. Free-swimming in shallow water the young feed on phytoplankton before moving back to the rocks, continuing their cycle of life.
From birth continuously growing, molting as size progresses, should they lose a limb due to heavy seas they are able to regenerate the limb, that is what I call progress!
Markings while alive are stunning, apparently when they die thin-shelled rock crab leaves behind red-orange colour shell. Life cycle between seven to ten years, some cultures do eat them, I haven't tried to catch them other than to photograph, let alone eat them, they too pretty to watch!
Short video I took of one feeding, shoveling away before taking off once again the Natal Rock Crab is most definitely one to be amazing at it's habitat, speed, ability to live along rough shore.
All photography is my own, any queries or requests please drop a comment below, have a wonderful day!
Thought for Today: "The crab has stuck fast between the stones at the entrance of its hole." - Xhosa Proverb
