Blue eyed Beachcomber

Blue eyed Beachcomber

Beachcomber Discovery

What type of Crab is that?

It’s not often that I come across something that baffles me on the sea shore, and so I lay down the challenge to my hiking guests to ask questions about our environment and if I don’t know the answer my promise to them is to find out and get back before the end of the trail or via e-mail. This bold statement has put me in some difficult spots often taking months to get to the bottom of the mystery but this is after all the best way to learn.

The other possibility is we may stumble upon a new species which is not as unlikely as one would think! Science has identified some 2 million species, scientists estimated there are millions more left to discover, and new species are constantly being discovered and described.  

Unfortunately this is not new and can’t be named the Blue eyed Beachcomber! This is the megalopa larval stage of a crab – the last stage before it moults into a juvenile that looks like the adult stage. The give-away is the abdomen, which is still segmented and relatively large. It is still difficult to pin down the species, either army crab Dotilla fenestrata (from the general shape), or Columbus' crab Planes minutus, which does have short blue eyes (and a blue body) in the adult stage.

Big thank you for the help towards identifying this little guy.

George Branch, Gavin Maneveldt, Andrew de Blocq, Charles Griffiths

Blue eyed Beachcomber

Jason Stonehewer

Unearthing shoreline secrets. Investigating colourful rock pools, amazing sea creatures, medicinal plants and much more on an informative short walk in Pearly Beach. For longer visits hike Beachcombers Perlemoen trail a spectacular 2/3 or 4 day slack-packing trip accompanied by a specialist guid...

View Profile

What is Xplorio?

Xplorio is your local connection allowing you to find anything and everything about a town.

Watch the Gansbaai Video
Read More

Other Articles

3-Bedroom House for Sale in Franskraal - R3,850,000

3-Bedroom House for Sale in Franskraal - R3,850,000

Immaculate, modern home in Franskraal, close to the sea with distant sea views.

Losing Yourself in a Narcissistic Relationship

Losing Yourself in a Narcissistic Relationship

When you're in a narcissistic relationship, your world quietly starts to shrink. 

Birkenhead Boothengelklub Birkenheaders goed op dreef

Birkenhead Boothengelklub Birkenheaders goed op dreef

Die Birkenhead Boothengelklub se hengelaars het goed gedoen met Saterdag, 17 Mei 2025 se boothengelkompetisie.

Gans-Berg Nuus / News
WEATHER WARNING: COLD FRONT COMING

WEATHER WARNING: COLD FRONT COMING

Very cold, wet, and windy conditions are expected this weekend and residents are urged to take the following precautions.

Gansbaai Tourism
Puppies for Adoption

Puppies for Adoption

Looking for a new furry family member?

BARC Animal Welfare
Community Outreach in Pearly Beach and Gansbaai

Community Outreach in Pearly Beach and Gansbaai

We’ve got two important community outreach events coming up next week, and we’d love your support!

Sunshine Nation
See All Articles