North American blackback land crab (SciiFii)

The North American blackback land crab (Gecarcinus terrestris), also known as the North American land blackback crab, is a species of land crab that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, and coastal areas across North America to help boost biodiversity. North American blackback land crabs are large crabs with the carapace measuring up to 11 centimetres (4.3 inches) wide. The claws are usually of equal size, unless one becomes injured or detached, in which case the limb will regenerate. The male crabs are generally larger than the females, while adult females have a much broader abdomen (only apparent above 3 years of age) and usually have smaller claws. As suggested by the name blackback land crab, it has a large blackish spot, which, although the exact shape is variable, covers a large part of the central carapace ("back"). The legs, claws and outer sections of the carapace are reddish, orange or whitish. Like most land crabs, North American blackback land crabs have gills and use them to breathe when under water. However, unlike most crabs, the North American blackback land crabs have a dual respiratory system, consisting of both gills and simple lungs (similar to those of other terrestrial crustaceans such as woodlice), so the North American blackback land crabs can spend throughout their lives on land, not just in the water. Although North American blackback land crabs are diurnal, they often avoid direct sunlight, despite not being severely impacted by higher temperatures nor higher and lower humidity, and they are almost completely inactive at night. North American blackback land crabs also dig burrows in sand, soil, etc, to shelter themselves from the sun and will usually stay in the same burrow through the year; during the dry season, they will cover the entrance to the burrow to maintain a higher humidity inside, and will stay there for 3 months until the start of the wet season. North American blackback land crabs are opportunistic omnivorous scavengers. They mostly eat fallen leaves, fruits, soft nuts, flowers, seedlings, and pinecones, but will also feed on dead animals (including cannibalizing other North American blackback land crabs), snails, and human rubbish. Apart from the breeding season, North American blackback land crabs are solitary animals and will defend their burrow from intruders. Unlike other members of the genus Gecarcinus, the North American blackback land crabs are completely independent of saltwater, unlike most crabs, so they can breed in freshwater, brackish waters, and saltwater, due to being far less specialized for a specific aquatic environment. The eggs released by the females immediately hatch upon contact with water and clouds of crab larvae will swirl near the shore until they are swept out to sea or the river, where they remain for 3–4 weeks. During this time, the larvae go through several larval stages, eventually developing into shrimp-like animals called megalopae. The megalopae gather near the shore for 1–2 days before changing into young crabs only 5 mm (0.20 in) across. The young crabs then leave the water to make a 9-day journey to the centre of the land. For the first three years of their lives, the young crabs will remain hidden in rock outcrops, fallen tree branches and debris on the forest and wetland floor. North American blackback land crabs grow slowly, reaching sexual maturity at around 4–5 years, at which point they begin participating in the annual migration. During their early growth phases, North American blackback land crabs will moult several times. Mature North American blackback land crabs will moult once a year, usually in the safety of their burrow. The conservation status of the North American blackback land crab is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American blackback land crab's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii