Huge, vividly colored crabs patrol the beach for algae

Sally Lightfoot crabs are possibly the most beautiful of all the crab species. Vividly colored in red and white with gold trim, these crabs are a sight to behold. Aptly named, they are incredibly quick and agile, making them almost impossible to catch. They inhabit almost all beaches and rocky surface in the Galapagos Islands, and other tropical areas, providing a janitorial service by ridding the beach of decaying vegetation and animal matter.

This large Sally Lightfoot is patrolling his beach on San Cristobal Island, gobbling up algae and any other edible material that will overrun the beach if not removed. This is a crucial role that prevents rot, stench, and bacteria that would be a threat to other animals, and even people wishing to use the beach.

In true crab fashion, this large fellow walks sideways on his eight legs, ready to make a quick dash for cover if danger appears. Birds and other crabs are the main predators of the Sally Lightfoot. Despite the vast numbers that appear along the intertidal areas of beaches, they are so hard to catch that few predators consider them a food source worth pursuing.

These crabs are vulnerable to a very specialized and disturbing parasite, the Rhizocephalan barnacle that effectively takes over the entire crab. It extends veins throughout the crab, even throughout the legs, resembling a root system, robbing the host of nutrients in order to feed. It will also destroy the sexual organs of the host crab in the process.

Sally Lightfoot crabs are a beautiful sight and a delight for tourists to photograph, as long as they remain still long enough to capture a well focused image. Their distinctive look has made them one of the more iconic animals of the Galapagos Islands.