Sally lightfoot crabs have is a typically shaped crab with a shell that grows three-five inches long, five pairs of legs, and two small, blocky claws on the front two legs. The non-clawed legs are flat, broad, and tipped at the ends. This shape allows the crab to run and jump quickly in all four directions.

Adult Sally lightfoot crabs are usually a deep red color, spotted pink or yellow. The extreme lack of camouflage doesn’t concern this crab as they can out-maneuver almost any predator. If frightened, the Sally lightfoot crab will leap into the turbulent waters and skitter along the surface or hop along lava rocks. Their tipped legs can fit into the tiny rock holes and hold on while being buffeted by waves.

The sally lightfoot crab can be found along the rocky Pacific coast of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Galapagos Islands. In the Atlantic Ocean, there is another crab by the name of Sally lightfoot, however, it has more muted colors.

The sally lightfoot crab primarily eats algae but is also known to dine on dead critters, organic trash, and more. In the Galapagos Islands, these crabs have a symbiotic relationship with the native marine iguanas. Sally lightfoot crabs will pick the parasites off the iguanas for food while the iguanas get clean.

Breeding season is year-round for Sally lightfoot crabs. The females will carry the eggs on their stomach until they’re ready to hatch, after which they will release them into the water.

The babies hatch with a spotted blackish-brown shell that assists with camouflaging. They will molt their shells as they get older causing the white and red spots to grow bigger and bigger until eventually all the black coloring is gone.

Scientists are unsure of where their name came from, but they speculate it has something to do with the crab’s nimbleness. It is rumored to have been named after a Caribbean dancer, thanks to its agility and thier lightfoot way of dancing and jumping.

Sally Lightfoot Crab are also known as the “Red Rock Crab”.