Sally Lightfoot Crab, Red Rock Crab

Description:

Actually this is a shed carapace shell, as you can see by the empty eye covers in photo #1. They are clear because Sally pulled her growing eyes out of them when she cast off the skin. Even though it is only a cast skin, it was so pretty I couldn't resist, plus I knew I wouldn't stress Sally with a photo session ;o}

Habitat:

This was found wedged in a rock piling on a pier off the west side of Ambergris Caye. The barrier reef is about a quarter mile out to sea, and it calms the waves considerably. On a normal day the tide might rise only a few inches between low and high tide.

Notes:

The wikipedia entry says they are found along the Atlantic coast of South America, but doesn't mention the Caribbean. Other sources mention the Caribbean, which is where this was found.