The coloring of the Sally Lightfoot crab changes throughout its life. When born, the .02 inch hatchling is dark black or brown with a few spots. This is the perfect camouflage against lava rocks. Until the age of four or five, the crab molts several times a year. Each new shell is larger and more colorful than the previous one. At maturity, they molt only once a year until eventually becoming bright red and orange with splashes of yellow, pink and blue. You would think this flamboyance would make them an easy target for predators. Not so. Their uncanny awareness, agility and speed leave most enemies frustrated and hungry.
