July 9, 2023

I am a Mangrove Tree Crab

I live in mangrove roots in the supralittoral zone

That means the roots are splashed but not submerged

Which is also how I wear my cologne.

Location: Jones Pier Conservation Area, Jungle Trail

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supralittoral_zone

https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Aratus%20pisonii%20-%20Mangrove%20Tree-climbing%20Crab.pdf

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 10, 2023

I am known as Mangrove Tree Crab

I am an omnivore

Although I really like to eat Mangroves

I'll also eat seagrasses, algae and more.

Location: Round Island Riverside Park, Vero Beach

Sources: http://www.wildsouthflorida.com/mangrove.tree.crab.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 31, 2022

I am a Mangrove Tree Crab

I spent my larval stages in the sea

Then I got older and came closer to shore

Where I reside in a Mangrove tree.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Aratus%20pisonii%20-%20Mangrove%20Tree-climbing%20Crab.pdf

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

August 10, 2021

This could be one Mangrove Tree Crab molting

Or it could be two Mangrove Tree Crabs getting down

Or it could be that one is a life guard

Who saved the other, who was about to drown.

(Ok, not gonna lie, I have no clue what is going on here. I have sent it to 2 nature nerd friends so far and we haven't reached a definitive conclusion, although we are leaning towards the molting theory. I'm open to suggestions!)

Location: Jetty Park, Fort Pierce

Sources: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2014/case_zac2/interactions.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 6, 2021

This was once a Mangrove Tree Crab,

Alas, he is no more

He is now just a crab dinner

For ants upon the shore.   

Location: Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park

Sources: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2014/case_zac2/habitat.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 4, 2019

Location: Jetty Park, Fort Pierce

We are Mangrove Tree Crabs
Our color varies widely
We are fast and if you try to catch us
We won't just sit by idly.

Sources: Wild South Florida - Mangrove Tree Crab

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 9, 2019

Location: Sebastian, Main Street Boat Ramp

I am a Mangrove Tree Crab
I usually eat mangroves but prefer to eat meat
I'm more likely to be predated in water though,
So I stay safe in the Mangrove canopy.

Sources: iNaturalist - Mangrove Tree Crab

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 21, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Riverwalk

This is a dead Blue Land Crab
We know he was on land when he died
The small snails on him are Hairy Wheel Snails,
They are pulmonate and need air to survive.

"Pulmonate" means that the snails have lungs
And don't live in the water.
There's also a live Mangrove Crab on
The other crab's back - he's a squatter.

(Make sure you click to enlarge this picture, there is a lot going on here. When I took this picture, I thought it was just a picture of a crab. When I downloaded it to my Mac, I realized that there was so much more going on, but I wasn't sure what exactly was happening. Extremely very special thanks to the amazing Heather Stapleton for explaining this picture to me.)

Sources: Interview, Heather Stapleton

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 14, 2017

Location: D. J. Wilcox Preserve

I am a Mangrove Tree Crab,
Not many of my kind live to be adults.
My larvae get eaten by filter feeders,
Very few hatch as the end result.

Sources: Wild South Florida - Mangrove Tree Crab

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 2, 2017

Location: Vero Beach, Round Island

This ia known as a Mangrove Crab,
Like all crabs, they have 8 legs.
They are omnivorous, but prefer to eat Mangrove leaves,
And females can hold 5,000-35,000 eggs.

Sources: Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson