Crab

Moved to Arthropods

It does look like a type of land crab.

I nearly give-up, but I remember I've seen this type of crab in a swampy area in my village in the Philippines. it's not the same color but they look very similar. We called them mouthless crab or a land crab. They were large in size and agressive. Most land crabs have one of their claws larger than the other.

I don't think it's purple marsh crab. These crabs are endemic to West Africa, Guinea and Sierra Leone. This crab was in Gabon, Central Africa. Thanks for trying again.

This a species of Purple Marsh crab(Afrithelphusa monodosa) only five species in two genera that belong to a rare group of freshwater crabs endemic to the upper Guinea forest block of West Africa.

The water on the map is saltwater. Its the Atlantic Ocean right where it meets Central Africa. However, there was freshwater habitats very, very close by as well. At times, only a small beach separated the salt water from the fresh. Thanks for taking the time to research this. I thought this was going to remain unknown. It's so cool to see a spotting reappear after you thought it was going to get ID'd.

That's so cool!

I was really focus on the claws aswell. Can you tell me that water on the map is it fresh water or the sea? I hate reading maps :)

Thanks Gina. I've been looking at images of G. lalandii, it does look a lot like it. I mean how many purple crabs can there be! My only concern is the claws. The images I saw seem to have 2 equally sized claws, where as my spotting seems to have one enormous claw and one regular size. I'm not sure. Maybe you can shed some light on this?

i think its a species of this kind Gecarcoidea lalandii

Yes,Carolina, really purple! Cool, eh!
Thanks alice.

Superb color, so unexpected!

Wow Dan!! Is he really purple? How cool is that!