Description

Gecarcoidea lalandii, commonly known as the Purple Land Crab, is a large terrestrial crab species belonging to the family Gecarcinidae. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Andaman Islands and eastwards, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the western Pacific islands.

Physical Description:

This species is characterized by its dark purple coloration, with long legs and short pincers. Adults can grow up to 16 cm in carapace width. They are nocturnal, spending most of the day hiding in burrows, and are known for their strong digging behavior.

Habitat and Distribution:

G. lalandii inhabits tropical forests and moist areas, often found in coastal regions. During the reproductive season, females migrate to the coast to release eggs in the tidal zone, a behavior that may offer protection to the ovigerous females.