Nauru: Thin-shelled Rock Crabs & More

The rugged rock pinnacles and limestone shelf surround the island are home to thousands of crabs of various species. But the most numerous ones are Thin-shelled Rock Crabs aka Grapsus tenuicrustatus. The live on and under rocks right at the edge of the surf and are very active and quick – they can run and jump. They feed on algae. They are of mixed colors made up of dark green, black, orange, yellow, and red. Their bodies are quite flat and back legs are extremely flattened. While they are eaten in SE Asia, in Nauru it’s just a crab running around the shore.