List of crustaceans of Puerto Rico facts for kids
Crustaceans are amazing creatures with hard shells that live all over the world. In Puerto Rico, you can find many different kinds, from tiny shrimp to big crabs. They are an important part of the island's ecosystems, both in the ocean and in freshwater rivers and even on land!
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What are Crustaceans?
Crustaceans are a type of arthropod, which means they have an exoskeleton. This is like a hard outer skeleton that protects their soft bodies. As they grow, they shed this shell in a process called molting. Most crustaceans live in water, like oceans, rivers, or lakes. But some, like certain crabs, have adapted to live on land. They still need water to keep their gills wet and often return to the sea to lay their eggs.
Shrimps of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is home to several types of freshwater shrimp. These shrimp often live in the island's rivers and streams. They are important for the ecosystem, helping to keep the water clean.
- Innocous freshwater shrimp (Atya innoccus): Also known as gata chica or chágara.
- Spinning freshwater shrimp (Atya lanipes): Called chágara giradora because of how it feeds.
- Roughback freshwater shrimp (Atya scabra): Known as guábara or gata grande. It has a rough shell.
- Bigclaw river shrimp (Macrobrachium carcinus): This shrimp is quite large. It is known as camarón de Años or viejo.
- Striped river shrimp (Macrobrachium crenulatum): Called coyuntero del verde or rayao because of its stripes.
- Bigarm river shrimp (Macrobrachium faustinum): Known as coyuntero, pelú, or popeye. It has noticeably large arms.
- Cascade river shrimp (Macrobrachium heterochirus): Also called camarón tigre or leopardo due to its patterns.
- Typhlatya monae: A unique shrimp found in specific habitats.
Crabs of Puerto Rico
Crabs are perhaps the most well-known crustaceans. Puerto Rico has a wide variety of crabs, living in different environments.
Land Crabs
These crabs spend most of their lives on land. They are often found in coastal areas or near forests.
- Blue land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi): Known as juey común, juey de tierra, juey azul, or palanca. These crabs are famous for their bright blue color. They dig burrows in the ground.
- Blackback land crab (Gecarcinus lateralis): Also called red land crab, jueyita de tierra, or mona. It has a dark patch on its back.
- Purple land crab (Gecarcinus ruricola): Known as juey morao or monita. This crab can be purple or black.
- Swamp ghost crab (Ucides cordatus): Called zambuco, cambú, or juey pelú. It lives in swampy areas.
Marine and Freshwater Crabs
These crabs live in the ocean or in freshwater.
- Puerto Rican sand crab (Emerita portoricensis): Known as cangrejo topo. These small crabs burrow quickly into the sand on beaches.
- Speckled swimming crab (Arenaeus cribarius): Called cocolía marina or pecosa. It has a speckled shell and can swim well.
- Bocourt swimming crab (Callinectes bocourti): Known as cocolía de Bocourt.
- Rugose swimming crab (Callinectes exasperatus): Called cocolía arrugada due to its rough shell.
- Shelligs (Callinectes ornatos): Also known as cocolía adornada or jaiba.
- Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus): A very common and well-known crab, called cocolía azul. It has paddle-like back legs for swimming.
- Batwing coral crab (Carpilius corallinus): Known as juey dormido. This crab lives among corals.
- Puerto Rican freshwater crab (Epilobocera sinuatifrons): Called buruquena or bruquena. This is a large crab that lives in freshwater rivers.
- Mangrove root crab (Goniopsis cruentata): Known as juey de mangle or cangrejo. It lives among the roots of mangrove trees.
- Channel clinging crab (Mithrax spinosissimus): Called cangrejo rey del Caribe (Caribbean king crab). It is a large, spiny crab.
- White ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata): Known as cangrejo fantasma or jueya blanca. These crabs are very fast and blend in with the sand.
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