Cardisoma guanhumi (Latreille, 1852)

Rogers, D. Christopher & Cruz-Rivera, Edwin, 2021, A preliminary survey of the inland aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Journal of Natural History 55 (13 - 14), pp. 799-850 : 818

Cardisoma guanhumi (Latreille, 1852)

The largest land crab in the Americas, this nocturnal species is generally abundant on St. Thomas in and around Dorothea Beach, Neltjeberg Bay, Brewer’s Bay, Abi Beach, Magens Bay, the University of the Virgin Islands campus, Yacht Haven Grande channel, Mandahl Bay, and in Fortuna pond. Although this is not strictly an aquatic species, the burrows were very common along ghuts and around ponds, often in banks. Excavated burrows extended down to the water table. Beatty (1968) and Chase and Hobbs (1969) give records from St. Thomas and St. Croix for this species. The juvenile and immature stages may be orange to tan, developing more and varied colours (including purple, yellow, pink, orange, or any combination of those colours) as they age. The adults are blue to grey.