The giant blue land crab is one of Florida’s largest. It can measure up to six inches across its body. It is semi-terrestrial, meaning that it spends most of its life away from salt water. As a juvenile, the crab is a dark brown, purple, or orange. As an adult, it becomes a bluish-gray color. One claw is larger than the other and the walking legs are sparsely hairy. In South Florida, these crabs live in low-lying coastal areas no more than 5 miles from the coast.
They live in burrows up to five feet deep, which can be a nuisance to homeowners who have lawns close to the shore. They eat leaves, fruits, berries, and flowers, and will occasionally eat beetles or other large insects. They are most active during full moons in the summer, as it is peak reproductive season.