Crabs are among the most active of the intertidal organisms. There are over a hundred crab species in the Galapagos but one stands out from the rest. The Sally lightfoot crab, Grapsus grapsus, is so abundant and so brightly colored, with red above and blue below, that no one can miss them. Their name comes from their habit of skipping across short stretches of water. Sally lightfoots are very alert to moving objects and are not easily approached. However, if you remain still they will walk over you, in the same way they do to rocks and marine iguanas. Their eyes are very unusual; they can be raised vertically on their eyestalks or lowered into grooves on their carapace.
Nature holds a fascination for us all. Some, like myself, are completely captivated by wonders like the one I have descibed above. When I see things like these crabs, they bring images of my childhood to mind. My first balloon, my first pet, and strongest of all, my first glimpse beneath the surface of the sea. This glimpse seduced me with a promise of unknown things; it was the beginning of a love affair that has not dimmed with time. The promise continues, never ending, reaching beyond the limits of knowledge into a thousands lifetimes yet to come.
