Puerto Rican sand crab
VU

Puerto Rican sand crab

Emerita portoricensis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_sand_crab

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Puerto Rican sand crab faces severe population declines primarily due to coastal development and beach modification activities that destroy its sandy intertidal habitat. Rising sea levels and increased storm intensity associated with climate change threaten to inundate critical nesting areas and alter sediment dynamics essential for the species' survival. Pollution from urban runoff and recreational beach activities further degrades water quality in the shallow coastal zones where these crabs feed and reproduce.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Puerto Rican sand crab inhabits sandy beaches and intertidal zones along the coasts of Puerto Rico and nearby Caribbean islands. These crabs require specific sediment conditions in the surf zone where they burrow and filter-feed on organic particles suspended in the water column.

MARINE· major

Threatened in Belize

EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
VU

Yucatan Brown Brocket

Mazama pandora

Declining
Coryphopterus eidolonVU

Coryphopterus eidolon

Unknown
VU

Coryphopterus lipernes

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Puerto Rican sand crab classified as Vulnerable?
Puerto Rican sand crab is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Puerto Rican sand crab faces severe population declines primarily due to coastal development and beach modification activities that destroy its sandy intertidal habitat. Rising sea levels and increased storm intensity associated with climate change threaten to inundate critical nesting areas and alter sediment dynamics essential for the species' survival. Pollution from urban runoff and recreational beach activities further degrades water quality in the shallow coastal zones where these crabs feed and reproduce.
Where does Puerto Rican sand crab live?
Puerto Rican sand crab occurs in Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Guatemala (plus 9 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Puerto Rican sand crab?
The main threats to Puerto Rican sand crab are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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