View source for Gecarcinus lateralis

{{Short description|Species of crustacean}}
{{Speciesbox 
| image = Gecarcinus lateralis 2.jpg
| image_caption = ''G. lateralis'' on [[Dominica]].
| taxon = Gecarcinus lateralis
| authority = ([[Freminville]], 1835)
}}

'''''Gecarcinus lateralis''''', also known by the [[common name]]s '''blackback land crab''', '''Bermuda land crab''', '''red land crab''' (leading to easy confusion with ''[[Gecarcoidea natalis]]'') and '''moon crab''' (leading to easy confusion with ''[[Gecarcinus quadratus|G. quadratus]]'' and ''[[Cardisoma]] spp.''), is a colourful [[crab]] from the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Gecarcinidae]].

==Distribution==
This species is found along the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast from [[South Padre Island]], [[Texas]] south to [[Macuto, Vargas|Macuto]], [[Venezuela]]. It also inhabits the [[Florida Keys]] and the islands of the [[Caribbean]].<ref name="Bright">{{cite journal |author=Donald B. Bright & Charles L. Hogue |year=1972 |title=A synopsis of burrowing land crabs of the World and list of their arthropod symbionts and burrow associates |journal=[[Contributions in Science]] |volume=220 |url=http://www.mosquitocatalog.org/files/pdfs/013600-0.pdf |pages=1–58 |doi=10.5962/p.241205 |s2cid=92490593 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009030017/http://www.mosquitocatalog.org/files/pdfs/013600-0.pdf |archive-date=2010-10-09 }}</ref>

==Relatives==
The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] in relations to the [[Pacific]] ''[[Gecarcinus quadratus]]'' is disputed, with many considering it and ''G. lateralis'' to be [[conspecific]]. Another closely related species, ''[[Gecarcinus ruricola]]'', occurs together with ''G. lateralis'' in the tropical western Atlantic, but its [[carapace]] is typically almost entirely blackish, dark [[Maroon (color)|maroon]], purplish or yellowish.

==Description==
[[File:Gecarcinus lateralis dorsal montage.jpg|thumb|Color variation in ''G. lateralis'' from Costa Rica. The lowermost two are from the Pacific population often regarded as a separate species, ''[[Gecarcinus quadratus|G. quadratus]]'']]
As suggested by the name blackback land crab, it has a large blackish spot, which, although the exact shape is variable, covers a large part of the central [[carapace]] ("back"). The legs, claws and outer sections of the carapace are reddish, orange or whitish. The carapace may reach a width of up to {{convert|11|cm}}.

==Ecology==
''G. lateralis'' occurs along the dry zone of sandy [[beach]]es and nearby hills, around {{convert|6|-|9|m}} above the highest high tide mark, where there is no standing water, but significant interstitial moisture.<ref name="Bright"/> They need to return to the ocean to breed (the [[crustacean larvae|larvae]] are released into the sea).<ref name="Taylor">{{cite journal |author=A. C. Taylor & P. Spencer Davies |year=1981 |title=Respiration in the land crab, ''Gecarcinus lateralis'' |journal=[[Journal of Experimental Biology]] |volume=93 |pages=197–208 |url=http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/93/1/197.pdf |issue=1|doi=10.1242/jeb.93.1.197 |bibcode=1981JExpB..93..197T }}</ref> Furthermore, its gills need to be moist all the time, or it will die. Compared to most other [[crustaceans]], its blood also has a higher [[oxygen]] carrying capacity.<ref name="Taylor"/><ref>{{cite journal |author=James R. Redmond |year=1968 |title=Transport of oxygen by the blood of the land crab, ''Gecarcinus lateralis'' |journal=[[American Zoologist]] |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=471–479 |doi=10.1093/icb/8.3.471|pmid=5699274 |doi-access=free }}</ref> It is largely [[herbivorous]], but will take animal matter if available.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Wikispecies}}
*{{cite book |author=Warren W. Burggren & Brian Robert McMahon |year=1988 |title=Biology of the Land Crabs |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-30690-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RR09AAAAIAAJ}}
*{{cite book |author=Helmut Debelius |year=2001 |title=Crustacea Guide of the World |publisher=IKAN Unterwasserarchiv |location=Frankfurt |isbn=978-3-931702-74-8}}

{{Gecarcinidae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3622121}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Grapsoidea]]
[[Category:Terrestrial crustaceans]]
[[Category:Arthropods of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Crustaceans described in 1835]]