Gecarcinus

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Gecarcinus is the main group (genus) of land crabs in the family Gecarcinidae. They live in warm coastal areas of the Americas and Caribbean islands.

Some ocean island species that were once placed in Gecarcinus are now in their own genus, Johngarthia.

These crabs spend most of their time on land, but they must go to the ocean to breed, with the larvae growing in seawater.

They are often very colorful, showing shades of red, orange, purple, yellow, white, or black. Because of their looks, some species—especially G. quadratus and G. lateralis—are popular in the pet trade.

Taxonomy (simplified): Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Arthropoda; Class Malacostraca; Order Decapoda; Infraorder Brachyura; Suborder Pleocyemata; Family Gecarcinidae; Genus Gecarcinus. Type species: Cancer ruricola.