Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus
Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus. Photograph taken at Km 21, Cabo Real, Baja California Sur, January 2011. We are abundant on a seasonal basis but very difficult to catch! They are also one of the world’s greatest surf baits.
Sally Lightfoot Crab, Female, Grapsus grapsus. Collected from a Tidal Pool, Km 17, El Tule, Baja California Sur, January 2018. Size: 7.2 cm (2.8 inches) x 6.0 cm (2.4 inches); wing span: 26 cm (10.2 inches).
Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus. Collected at Km 21, Cabo Real, Baja California Sur, January 2011. Tuff to catch! It took two hours, armed with a bait net, to catch two specimens for photos. Size: 9.0 cm (3.5 inches) x 7.8 cm (3.1 inches).
Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus. Caught taking a stroll on the beach of India Bay, Huatulco, Oaxaca, January 2018. Photograph courtesy of Jason Quick, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus. Photograph taken off the rocks in coastal waters off Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, March 2021. Photograph courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden. Identification reconfirmed by Ondřej Radosta, Prague, Czech Republic.
General Information: The Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus, is one of several crabs that are commonly referred to as “Sally Lightfoots.” The name Lightfoot coming from their ability to skip across the surface of the water for short distances. They are members of the Grapsidae Family of Shore Crabs and known in Mexico as abuente negro. Their scientific name Grapsus grapsus literally translates to crab crab. The Sally Lightfoot Crab is the subject of much folklore, and was reported by the immortal Ray Cannon to be an “ornery, razor-packin’, ink-spittin’ Devil spawn of the beach, satanic creature.” Said John Steinbeck of this crab in The Log of the Sea of Cortez: “They seem to be able to run in all four directions; but more than this, perhaps because of their rapid reaction time they appear to read the mind of their hunter. Man reacts peculiarly but consistently in his relationship with Sally Lightfoot. His tendency eventually is to scream curses, to hurl himself at them, and to come up foaming with rage bruises all over his chest” .. and empty handed.
Identification: These crabs are decapod crustaceans with 10 limbs, short eye stalks, powerful claws, and short antennae, with a large shell or carapace covering their bodies. Their color can range from deep red, brown or green while juveniles are a dull grey to dark brown. their fingers are spoon shaped and carapace is strongly vertical. They are characterized by their omnipresence and their elusive tactics, which makes photograph, collection, and accurate identification most difficult. “Sally Lightfoot” is the close relative of Flat Rock Crab, Percnon plasissimum, and the Nible Spray Crab, Percnon gibbesi, both of which only reach a size of one inch in diameter. The Sally Lightfoots found at Los Cabos vary in diameter from 5 cm (2.0 inches) to 10 cm (3.9 inches), but as named, they are virtually impossible to catch.
Diet: The Sally Lightfoots are omnivorous scavengers that feed on algae, dead fish, dead birds, and dead seals.
Habitat and Range: The “Sally Lightfoots” pictured herein are abundant in the Los Cabos area of Baja California Sur, Mexico. They are widely distributed throughout the Americas and Africa. It is found on all rocky points in Isla Cedros, the Gulf of Mexico, The Galapagos Islands, Chile, Puerto Libertad, Mazatlán, and Baja California.
Conservation Status: From a conservation perspective the Sally Lightfoot Crab has not been formally evaluated. However, they are exceedingly common and of limited interest to most and should be considered to be of Least Concern. They are however, one of the very best surf baits and can be used whole or cut into quarters.
Synonyms: Cancer grapsus, Cancer jumpibus, Grapsus altifrons, Grapsus maculatus, Grapsus ornatus, and Grapsus pictus