A BAHAMAS CRAB FEAST ON ABACO & BEYOND
The photos below show a sample of the types of crab that may be found in and around the island of Abaco, both in the sea and on land. The wonderful underwater images were taken in adjacent waters by Melina Riger of Grand Bahama Scuba. The rest were taken by landlubbers at Rolling Harbour on the Delphi beach and rather closer to the building than one might expect. The last crab (and the header image) was a crab hooshed out of the coppice by Ricky Johnson to demonstrate its fighting prowess. I have put links to 2 posts featuring this fine specimen (including a video) at the end.
ARROW CRAB
HERMIT CRAB
HORSESHOE CRAB (LIMULUS)
COMMON GHOST CRAB (Ocypode quadrata), DELPHI BEACH
PET CRABS PROTECTING MY ROD OUTSIDE OUR ROOM (note second crab behind it) AND ADVERTISING HARDY PRODUCTS. Rick Guest has pointed out that the crab is not protecting my rod at all. As if! “The crab in the foreground is the male guarding “his” female, distinguished by the small, abdominal triangle. The wide margins of the female’s abdomen are evident.” So that’s how to tell the sex of a land crab. 
BLUE LAND CRAB (Cardisoma guanhumi) WITH ATTITUDE
LAND CRABS ON ABACO: HOW TO STALK & WRESTLE THEM
LAND CRAB vs RICKY JOHNSON: ROUND 2 (VIDEO)
PS thanks to Nick Kenworthy for species comments + knowing the Latin names; also Clare for the Limulus
ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO 
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I’m glad that blue land crab is on the island of Abaco rather than the British Isles, RH. I don’t like the cut of his jib!
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It’s the cut of the small shredding claw you have to worry about, Lucy! But he probably does have a fearsome jib concealed somewhere too. The face is awesome! They are delicious, like lobster. Which I don’t much care for. So, not for me. RH
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I remember when I was a kid once we were hunting for crabs in the canal near the running mon marina. My friend turned over a rock and found a decent sized crab under the rock, but in the process he managed to get bitten by him on his thumb. He yelled out in pain and pulled his hand out complete with the main crab claw attached. The remainder of the crab got away but we couldnt get the claw off his thumb. We had to get a screw driver in the end to wedge it open. He had a lovely brusie for a while.
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Good tale, Nick. Creatures not to be trifled with! Watching Ricky Johnson do his claw demonstration with the crab was amazing – but then he know exactly what he was doing… As did the crab! RH
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Hi RH ! Note on the 2 LC’s “guarding” your fly rod: The crab in the foreground is the male guarding “his” female, distinguished by the small, abdominal triangle. The wide margins of the female’s abdomen are evident. Btw, corn fed LC’s are absolutely delicious!
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I reckoned there was some uxorial protection going on here… thanks for the reminder about the distinction between the genders. I’ll add that. And take note of the culinary advice… All the best RH
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This is really an amazing set of crabs! Great shots, I never saw anything like this. The dressed crabs in Blakeney looks all so small in comparison…
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They are fun aren’t they – so very different, from Melinda’s delicate arrow crabs to my bruiser of a land crab. But I reckon the Blakeney crabs are best to eat, though.
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Well, the problem is that the fishermen of Blakeney and Cromer caught too many crabs over the last years. There is the danger of shortage, although wherever I go in Norfolk Cromer or Blakeney crabs are for sale.
I love dressed crabs – yummy 🙂
Greatings from the hot coast of Norfolk – 28 degrees C now at 10h
Klausbernd
Greetings from Hanne who is flying to Norway today
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Hi Klausbernd. Coastal overfishing is a problem everywhere it seems. I’ve just had a totally blank evening boat-fishing for mackerel from Weymouth Dorset – most surprising. Hope you have a sea-breeze – there’s no breeze in London! At least you can go for a swim. We are going to Houghton this weekend for the Exhib. there, so we’ll get a quick taste of Norfolk. Hope Hanne has a good time in Norway… land of my fathers! RH
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Dear RH,
well, the weather is bril here:about 30 degrees C and little sea breeze, just great. Hanne and me walked to the Blakeney Point yesterday seal watching. Today I drove her to Norwich to the airport bus, it was incredibly hot there -no breeze.
Have fun in Houghton and you know if you are in the Blakeney area you are welcome 🙂
All the best
Klausbernd
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p.s. we reckon your sandy coloured beach crab could be a Ocypode quadrata (common Ghost crab) but again this is very much an educated guess. See what the others think.
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PS it is, of course *smites forehead*. See previous reply for thanks and amendment promise… RH
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RH regarding your last image, is that a “Cardisoma guanhumi” which is commonly known as the blue land crab? I say that with no authority and it is just a dim and distant memory from my highschool biology teacher. However, the image does appear to indicate it being a little blue.
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Hi Nick, outstandingly helpful. I’d been going to put ‘blue’, decided not blue enough so better check, ran out of time and now you’ve helpfully stepped in, including the Latin! I’m going along with that, and will amend accordingly… RH
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