Puerto Rican sand crab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puerto Rican sand crab |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Infraorder: |
Anomura
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| Family: |
Hippidae
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| Genus: |
Emerita
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| Species: |
E. portoricensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Emerita portoricensis Schmitt, 1935
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The Puerto Rican sand crab, known scientifically as Emerita portoricensis, is a special type of crab. It belongs to a group called "sand crabs" and lives only around the main island of Puerto Rico and its nearby islands. These crabs are often found burrowing in the sand along the ocean's edge.
Discovering the Puerto Rican Sand Crab
The most detailed study about the Puerto Rican sand crab was done by a scientist named Sastre. This research took place between 1988 and 1992. It helped us learn a lot about how these crabs live and grow.
Life Cycle and Growth
Puerto Rican sand crabs grow quite quickly. Both male and female crabs are ready to have babies when they are about three months old.
Size Differences
- Female crabs: When they reach sexual maturity at three months, females are about 7 mm (¼ in) long. They can grow much bigger, reaching a maximum shell size of 19 mm (¾ in).
- Male crabs: Males grow a bit slower than females. At three months old, they are usually only 5 mm (3⁄16 in) long. The biggest male crabs found have a shell size of about 11 mm (½ in).
Reproduction
When it comes to having babies, female crabs produce more eggs as they get bigger. This means larger females can contribute more to the next generation of sand crabs. Interestingly, as male crabs get older, their ability to help with reproduction seems to decrease.
