Species profile
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Grapsus grapsus
Identify Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) is a crustacean present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 242 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and California the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for their agility — they can sprint across wet rocks in any direction.
- Juveniles are jet-black, camouflaging them against dark volcanic rock in the Galapagos.
- Adults display vivid red, orange, and yellow shells that make them unmistakable.
- They pick parasites and dead skin from Galapagos marine iguanas and sea lions.
- Range extends along rocky Pacific shores from Baja California to southern South America.
Where Sally Lightfoot Crab are seen
Background
Grapsus grapsus is one of the most common crabs along the western coast of the Americas. It is known variously as, "red rock crab", "abuete negro", and along with crabs such as Percnon gibbesi as, "Sally Lightfoot".
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Sally Lightfoot Crab article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Sally Lightfoot Crab?
Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) is a crustacean present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Sally Lightfoot Crab?
Sally Lightfoot Crab is Grapsus grapsus.
Are there fishing rules for Sally Lightfoot Crab?
Sally Lightfoot Crab does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Sally Lightfoot Crab?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Sally Lightfoot Crab along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.