Gecarcinus Ruricola

Gecarcinus Ruricola is a terrestrial crab widespread across the Caribbean and naturally occurring in Dominica. Locally referred to as the black land crab, its carapace can appear in colour forms ranging from black and purple to red, yellow, and even green. Adults grow steadily at about an inch per year, taking nearly five years to reach maturity and living up to a decade. To survive on land, they use a nephritic pad that helps conserve water, enabling them to remain active in forests far from the coast. Burrows are dug under rocks and logs, often fronted with compacted soil “porches.” Their habitat spans coastal slopes to inland elevations above 300 metres, including moist ravines and wooded ecosystems inside Dominica’s protected areas. Females migrate to the sea to release eggs, which hatch into larvae that drift in plankton before juvenile crabs, called megalopa, return to land and establish burrows.

Diet, Human Use, and Ecological Role

Feeding primarily on fallen leaves, fruits, and decaying matter, Gecarcinus ruricola acts as a scavenger and recycler within the Dominican biodiversity corridors. It occasionally consumes carrion and invertebrates, helping to clear organic waste and keep forest floors balanced. Their burrowing improves soil drainage, aerates substrates, and creates microhabitats for other species. These crabs emerge in large numbers during heavy rainfall, a behaviour long observed in rural communities. Locally, they are harvested for food, especially in traditional dishes like crab-back and calalou soup. At the ecological level, their population supports predators such as birds and small mammals, while at the cultural level, they remain a valued resource managed within the rules of the Forestry and Wildlife Act and often mentioned in discussions around marine conservation, given their unique coastal-to-inland life cycle.