Panama City Beach: Name that crab!

[ethywen]

Can anyone identify this crab? Seen today, 5/8/2011 snorkeling off of Panama City Beach near the Jetties which were, unfortunately, closed to divers while they dredge for the beaches.

Thanks for any guesses or information!

 

[knotical]

Looks like an Ocellated Box Crab (Calappa ocellata). It appears to have been dead for a while and has suffered erosion, especially on its claws.

 

[ethywen]

Having looked up "ocellated box crab," I would say you got the type of crab, but that it seems to be a "Flame Streaked Box Crab." And, since it was running across the bottom and waving its claws at me when I got close to it, I'd say you were a bit off on the dead part

Thank you so much, though, I don't know if I'd have ever found that!

 

[knotical]

since it was running across the bottom and waving its claws at me when I got close to it, I'd say you were a bit off on the dead part

My bad. That's what I get for reading too much into a photo.