Four colour morphs exist within the species - black, red, yellow, and green. The carapace of G. ruricola grows in width at a rate of about 1 in (25 mm) per year, with the crabs reaching maturity after 5 years, and … Meer weergeven

The eggs of G. ruricola hatch in the sea, where the larvae live as plankton. The return of the larvae to land seems to be infrequent, … Meer weergeven

Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1758 (the starting point for zoological nomenclature), noting the species' annual migrations … Meer weergeven

G. ruricola is found across much of the Caribbean, from Cuba and the Bahamas in the west through the Antilles to Barbados in the east. It has been reported from Meer weergeven

G. ruricola is an omnivorous scavenger, feeding mostly on nitrogen-poor plant matter.
The meat of G. ruricola is rich in protein, and has often been harvested by local people. Other predators may include birds, although … Meer weergeven

G. ruricola appeared on two African postage stamps for the International Year of the Ocean in 1998, under the name "mountain … Meer weergeven