More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Crustaceans of Zihuatanejo
SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Crustaceans (Subphylum Crustacea)
-Typical Crustaceans (Superclass Multicrustacea)
-Malacostracans (Class Malacostraca)
-Decapods, Isopods, and Allies (Subclass Eumalacostraca)
-Decapods and Krill (Superorder Eucarida)
-Decapods (Order Decapoda)
-Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimps, and Allies (Suborder Pleocyemata)
-True Crabs (Infraorder Brachyura)
-Thoracotrematan Crabs (Zoosubsection Thoracotremata)
-Land, Shore, and Marsh Crabs (Superfamily Grapsoidea)
-Shore Crabs (Family Grapsidae)
-Genus Goniopsis
-Racer Mangrove Crab (Goniopsis pulchra)
The Racer Mangrove Crab (Goniopsis pulchra) is a swift and visually striking species commonly found in mangrove forests in parts of Central and South America. Known for its agility, this crab moves quickly across muddy mangrove roots and sediment, helping it escape predators and forage efficiently. Goniopsis pulchra has a distinctive appearance, often displaying a vibrant reddish or purplish carapace with contrasting markings, which makes it stand out among other mangrove crabs. It is an omnivore, feeding on a varied diet of mangrove leaves, algae, detritus, and small animals.
Racer Mangrove Crab
Goniopsis pulchra
Diet
Omnivorous, feeding on fallen mangrove leaves, algae, detritus, fruits, fungi, carrion, insects, worms, molluscs, and other small crustaceans.
Also scavenges dead fish and other organic material washed into mangrove forests.
An active forager that searches both the forest floor and mangrove roots during low tide.
Range
Native to the tropical eastern Pacific, occurring from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Mexico south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Widespread along the Pacific coast of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region of Guerrero.
Habitat
Inhabits mangrove forests, estuaries, tidal creeks, coastal lagoons, mudflats, and river mouths.
Commonly seen climbing mangrove roots, trunks, and low branches, as well as running rapidly across mud and leaf litter during low tide.
Shelters beneath roots, driftwood, rocks, or in shallow burrows when inactive.
Size
Carapace width: 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in)
Carapace length: 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in)
Weight: Typically 30–80 g