Saturday, December 28, 2013
A Must See "Movie" on Sanibel Island
This is not a gripe, but it is a reality. We come to Sanibel, fall in love with its beaches and swimming. Bike through the nature preserve, gather shells, explore the shops and feast on the delicacies of the Island.
We all know Sanibel is a very unique place, but it is often disappointing to see photos and videos on the Island. Many are nice, but really don't capture the charms of the island.
And while the newest depiction of Sanibel is not really a "movie" it is so in depth with images so vivid, it does a very good job of illustrating the many, many joys of Sanibel.
The video quality is excellent, and portrays the diverse charms of Sanibel life in a way no single video we have viewed to date has been able to do.
We are taken on island over the beautiful causeway, seeing the emerald bay spill out on either side of this architectural wonder. The narrator talks about the causeway as being the bridge between the magic of the island and the reality of life on the main land. The aerial shots over the causeway are stunning and aerial shots are one remarkable thread through out the video.
The segue from the causeway to the island is the blending of nature and beauty. Lovely shots of various birds bring the viewer into Ding Darling and aware of the wild life all over the island. And the appetite is whet, not just with birds, but with discussions of foods available in the various restaurants.
And perhaps in the most stunning images of all, the discussion of the dark skies and starry nights is awesomely enhanced with night photography we simple folks would not be able to capture on our "ordinary" cameras. The footage is , indeed, extraordinary with timed photography and almost special effects like scenery.
In just 9 minutes of video, the wide range of subjects covered is quite impressive. Reaching out to nature is portrayed in engaging images and narrative by the director of the Sanibel Sea School. Seeing tiny sea creatures held in young hands and watching the wonder on their faces is an innocent kind of love, and one we familiar with Sanibel know and appreciate.
And the upbeat music moves the video from first glimpse to last chord.
But don't take our word for it. Take a look here and tell us what you think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjntcCXYcN8
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
How we see Pre-Christmas on Sanibel Island
Twas a week before Christmas and all through our paradise,
Children (and adults) are ever so wise.
They have chosen these islands for their holiday fun,
And fun they will have here--- each and every one.
From 3 days before Xmas and straight til New Year's Eve,
there will be something at Herb Strauss Theatre for all who believe.
And close to the beaches, every creature is stirring from alligator to mouse,
As beautiful sounds of music can be heard from our pretty lighthouse.
At this icon of Sanibel on Christmas eve early evening til late night,
songs we will sing and candles we'll light.
As majestic as Eagles stand our palm trees so tall.
And decorated with lights ---- for the pleasure of all.
Come dance with the sea,
Come discover our island mystery,
Come take a boat tour of our beauty,
Come and explore a pirate's booty.
Come eat in festive places,
Come and see our happy faces,
Come escape your winter woes,
Come to warm sands and wiggle your toes!
And if you do all we suggest, we are sure you will find the best of the best.
For no doubt you will see the highlight of the season, our Santa at rest.
He'll have a tanned face, and a little round belly
That will shake when he laughs, like a bowl full of jelly:
He'll be chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And you'll laugh when you see him in spite of yourself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
He'll soon let you know there's no winter to dread.
He'll spring from his beach chair, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they'll all fly, like the down of a thistle:
But you'll hear him exclaim, as he flies out of sight-
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!!!!!
Children (and adults) are ever so wise.
They have chosen these islands for their holiday fun,
And fun they will have here--- each and every one.
From 3 days before Xmas and straight til New Year's Eve,
there will be something at Herb Strauss Theatre for all who believe.
And close to the beaches, every creature is stirring from alligator to mouse,
As beautiful sounds of music can be heard from our pretty lighthouse.
At this icon of Sanibel on Christmas eve early evening til late night,
songs we will sing and candles we'll light.
As majestic as Eagles stand our palm trees so tall.
And decorated with lights ---- for the pleasure of all.
Come dance with the sea,
Come discover our island mystery,
Come take a boat tour of our beauty,
Come and explore a pirate's booty.
Come eat in festive places,
Come and see our happy faces,
Come escape your winter woes,
Come to warm sands and wiggle your toes!
And if you do all we suggest, we are sure you will find the best of the best.
For no doubt you will see the highlight of the season, our Santa at rest.
He'll have a tanned face, and a little round belly
That will shake when he laughs, like a bowl full of jelly:
He'll be chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And you'll laugh when you see him in spite of yourself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
He'll soon let you know there's no winter to dread.
He'll spring from his beach chair, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they'll all fly, like the down of a thistle:
But you'll hear him exclaim, as he flies out of sight-
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!!!!!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Some strange names on Sanibel Island
When we look at the sightings of wildlife on Sanibel, we are always amazed at the variety and quantity of critters. Any given week on Island is a superb opportunity to observe all six classes of animals: mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, amphibians,and invertebrates (primarily insects).
In doing so, and taking a moment to do the research, you will find that some of our critters have unusual names. And though you may be tempted to guess at why they have the proper and common names they do, you might be surprised to find out the real reasons. They are all special!
For example, there is the ubiquitous pig frog. The pig frog (Rana grylio) is a species of aquatic frog found in the Southeastern United States from South Carolina to Texas. Some sources also refer to it as the lagoon frog or the southern bullfrog. Almost entirely aquatic, they are found predominantly on the edges of lakes, or in cypress swamps and marshes that are heavy with vegetation. They are nocturnal. Their name, however, has really nothing to do with their appearance. Rather, they are called pig frogs because of their vocalization, not their adorable looks. Their pig-like grunts can be heard during the warm months of the year.
And then there is the lovely cloudless sulphur butterfly. The cloudless sulphur, Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus), is one of our most common and attractive Florida butterflies and is particularly prominent during its fall southward migration. Its genus name is derived from Phoebe the sister of Apollo, a god of Greek and Roman mythology (Opler & Krizek 1984).
The upper surface of the male is lemon yellow with no markings. The female is yellow or white; outer edges of both wings with irregular black borders; upper fore wing with dark spot in cell. The lower surface of hind wing of both sexes with 2 pink-edged silver spots.
Not everyone realizes it, but there are two kinds of crows across much of the eastern United States. The Fish Crow found on the Island is one of them. Looking almost identical to the ubiquitous American Crow, Fish Crows are tough to identify until you learn their nasal calls. And they neither look nor sound like fish, but fish, indeed, is their dinner of choice. Look for them around bodies of water, usually in flocks and sometimes with American Crows. It is worth nothing, however, that they are supreme generalists, eating just about anything they can find. Fish Crows have expanded their range inland and northward along major river systems in recent decades.
Which brings us to one of favorites on Island, the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American Opossum, is the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and thus the largest opossum, it is a successful opportunist. It is familiar to many North Americans as it is often seen near towns, rummaging through garbage cans, or sadly lying by the road, a victim of traffic.
The Virginia Opossum is the original animal named opossum. The word comes from Algonquian 'wapathemwa' meaning "white animal", not from Greek or Latin, so the plural is opossums. Colloquially, the Virginia Opossum is frequently called simply possum.
We would love to know what you consider to be Sanibel's most unusual critters!
In doing so, and taking a moment to do the research, you will find that some of our critters have unusual names. And though you may be tempted to guess at why they have the proper and common names they do, you might be surprised to find out the real reasons. They are all special!
And then there is the lovely cloudless sulphur butterfly. The cloudless sulphur, Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus), is one of our most common and attractive Florida butterflies and is particularly prominent during its fall southward migration. Its genus name is derived from Phoebe the sister of Apollo, a god of Greek and Roman mythology (Opler & Krizek 1984).
The upper surface of the male is lemon yellow with no markings. The female is yellow or white; outer edges of both wings with irregular black borders; upper fore wing with dark spot in cell. The lower surface of hind wing of both sexes with 2 pink-edged silver spots.
Not everyone realizes it, but there are two kinds of crows across much of the eastern United States. The Fish Crow found on the Island is one of them. Looking almost identical to the ubiquitous American Crow, Fish Crows are tough to identify until you learn their nasal calls. And they neither look nor sound like fish, but fish, indeed, is their dinner of choice. Look for them around bodies of water, usually in flocks and sometimes with American Crows. It is worth nothing, however, that they are supreme generalists, eating just about anything they can find. Fish Crows have expanded their range inland and northward along major river systems in recent decades.
Which brings us to one of favorites on Island, the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American Opossum, is the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and thus the largest opossum, it is a successful opportunist. It is familiar to many North Americans as it is often seen near towns, rummaging through garbage cans, or sadly lying by the road, a victim of traffic.
The Virginia Opossum is the original animal named opossum. The word comes from Algonquian 'wapathemwa' meaning "white animal", not from Greek or Latin, so the plural is opossums. Colloquially, the Virginia Opossum is frequently called simply possum.
We would love to know what you consider to be Sanibel's most unusual critters!
Friday, November 29, 2013
Observations at the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
Though it's been a few weeks since the Festival took place, it was such a lovely setting and such nice weather, we have to look back at the history and the highlights as a heads up for next year. We know our rental guests, even if not kayakers, canoe enthusiasts or paddle boarders themselves, would love the feel and the sight of this special time.
Almost every section of Florida offers great places to kayak or canoe. But the southwestern section along Lee County is doing more than any other to promote itself as a great kayaking destination.
The 2013 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is a good example of how to bring attention to kayaking and canoeing.
The Calusa Blueway Paddling trail is a 190-mile marked and meandering saltwater trail. The annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is designed to draw attention to what a great place it is to kayak.
The 2013 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, was held November 1 to 3. The event, which started in 2006, was named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2012. And for good reason.
The festival included demos, competitive canoe/kayak races, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics and demonstrations, seminars, family activities, environmental events, guided tours, and celebrations along The Great Calusa Blueway.
Matlacha’s Bluegrass for a Blueway and A Taste of Matlacha were certainly highlights of the Festival. Free to the public, the events featured music from Wild Caught and served as a fundraiser for the Pine Island Food Pantry. There were “tastes” from area restaurants and event attenders were offered a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board for free courtesy of Florida Paddle Sports and Gulf Coast Kayak.
As interesting as the planned activities were, however, we were smitten with the unplanned images that typify the Festival.
We took home in our mind's eye, so many picture perfect moments.
There were the numerous couples sharing a kayak or paddle board and exemplifying the concept that couples who play together stay together.
And there were dads, and even moms, who paddled along with a youngster en board.
But our favorites "co-paddlers" were those with their pet pooch along for the ride.
Those that achieved the biggest kudos were the great gymnasts who flaunted their accomplishments on their paddle boards, and the courageous wheel chair paddlers who managed to keep their balance even with their equipment on board.
To the organizers of this iconic event, we applaud you all. To all those who have not yet attended, keep a look out for the dates set for 2014. You will not be disappointed!
Almost every section of Florida offers great places to kayak or canoe. But the southwestern section along Lee County is doing more than any other to promote itself as a great kayaking destination.
The 2013 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is a good example of how to bring attention to kayaking and canoeing.
The Calusa Blueway Paddling trail is a 190-mile marked and meandering saltwater trail. The annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is designed to draw attention to what a great place it is to kayak.
The 2013 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, was held November 1 to 3. The event, which started in 2006, was named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2012. And for good reason.
The festival included demos, competitive canoe/kayak races, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics and demonstrations, seminars, family activities, environmental events, guided tours, and celebrations along The Great Calusa Blueway.
Matlacha’s Bluegrass for a Blueway and A Taste of Matlacha were certainly highlights of the Festival. Free to the public, the events featured music from Wild Caught and served as a fundraiser for the Pine Island Food Pantry. There were “tastes” from area restaurants and event attenders were offered a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board for free courtesy of Florida Paddle Sports and Gulf Coast Kayak.
As interesting as the planned activities were, however, we were smitten with the unplanned images that typify the Festival.
We took home in our mind's eye, so many picture perfect moments.
There were the numerous couples sharing a kayak or paddle board and exemplifying the concept that couples who play together stay together.
And there were dads, and even moms, who paddled along with a youngster en board.
But our favorites "co-paddlers" were those with their pet pooch along for the ride.
Those that achieved the biggest kudos were the great gymnasts who flaunted their accomplishments on their paddle boards, and the courageous wheel chair paddlers who managed to keep their balance even with their equipment on board.
To the organizers of this iconic event, we applaud you all. To all those who have not yet attended, keep a look out for the dates set for 2014. You will not be disappointed!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Sanibel Island a great place for seeing Butterflies
“Butterflies are self propelled flowers. ”
― R.H. Heinlein
And so we who love Sanibel would agree. While there is so much wild life on Sanibel Island that the "mere" butterfly can easily be missed, those who love these self propelled flowers will not be disappointed.
When it comes to the sheer variety in butterflies, Sanibel stands tall. In fact, there are approximately 28,000 butterfly species worldwide. In the United States and Canada there are about 725 species. 80% are in the tropics, and Sanibel has quite a few to brag about.
In fact, one nice aspect of a Sanibel holiday is the tour of the Butterfly House at the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF).
The Butterfly House was conceived by the Native Plant Nursery as an extension of the Landscaping for Wildlife program. It was constructed by Foundation Volunteers (the screen enclosure was subcontracted), and financed through the Lolly Cohen Memorial Fund and donations.
One of the exhibit’s primary functions is to educate residents and visitors about butterfly biology and wildlife ecology. One can observe butterflies at all stages of their life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult. Plants within the exhibit provide nectar for adults from flowers and leaves as food for their caterpillars. The larval plants for the caterpillars are essential to the completion of a butterfly’s life cycle. .
Butterfly House Tours are Tuesdays at 10 a.m. for a suggested $1 donation. A guide will teach you about the life cycle and behavior of butterflies. The butterfly house is open year-round to all visitors without a guide. It's a very special place, and we highly recommend a visit.
Some of the Butterflies you will learn about at the Butterfly House are those you will see commonly throughout the Island.
The Dingy Purplewing has an upperside that is brown-black with a slight purple sheen. Dull, blurry white spots on forewing apex. Underside is brownish gray with no distinct pattern. The purplewing in caterpillar stage can be found in Gumbo Limbo trees, quite prevalent on the Island. As adult butterflies they eat otting fruit, dung, and sap; seldom flower nectar.
More brilliant in appearance is the Ruddy Daggerwing. The tip of Ruddy Daggerwing's forewing is elongated. The hindwing has long dagger-like tails. Upperside is orange with 3 thin black lines. Underside is mottled brown and black, resembling a dead leaf. In caterpillar stage, the Daggerwing can be found living in Common fig trees (Ficus carica) and wild banyan tree (F. citrifolia) in the fig family (Moraceae). As adults their diets are largely nectar from giant milkweed in Florida; Cordia, Casearia, Lantana, and Mikania in the tropics.
But perhaps our favorite on the Island is the Gulf Fritillary, easily and often seen. This "popular" guy has an upperside bright orange with black markings; 3 black-encircled white dots on forewing leading edge. Underside brown; forewing with orange at base; both wings with elongated, iridescent silver spots. As caterpillars, they can be found in various species of passion-vine including maypops (Passiflora incarnata) and running pop (P. foetida). As adult butterflies, their food is nectar from lantana, shepherd\'s needle, cordias, composites, and others.
― R.H. Heinlein
And so we who love Sanibel would agree. While there is so much wild life on Sanibel Island that the "mere" butterfly can easily be missed, those who love these self propelled flowers will not be disappointed.
When it comes to the sheer variety in butterflies, Sanibel stands tall. In fact, there are approximately 28,000 butterfly species worldwide. In the United States and Canada there are about 725 species. 80% are in the tropics, and Sanibel has quite a few to brag about.
In fact, one nice aspect of a Sanibel holiday is the tour of the Butterfly House at the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF).
The Butterfly House was conceived by the Native Plant Nursery as an extension of the Landscaping for Wildlife program. It was constructed by Foundation Volunteers (the screen enclosure was subcontracted), and financed through the Lolly Cohen Memorial Fund and donations.
One of the exhibit’s primary functions is to educate residents and visitors about butterfly biology and wildlife ecology. One can observe butterflies at all stages of their life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult. Plants within the exhibit provide nectar for adults from flowers and leaves as food for their caterpillars. The larval plants for the caterpillars are essential to the completion of a butterfly’s life cycle. .
Butterfly House Tours are Tuesdays at 10 a.m. for a suggested $1 donation. A guide will teach you about the life cycle and behavior of butterflies. The butterfly house is open year-round to all visitors without a guide. It's a very special place, and we highly recommend a visit.
Some of the Butterflies you will learn about at the Butterfly House are those you will see commonly throughout the Island.
The Dingy Purplewing has an upperside that is brown-black with a slight purple sheen. Dull, blurry white spots on forewing apex. Underside is brownish gray with no distinct pattern. The purplewing in caterpillar stage can be found in Gumbo Limbo trees, quite prevalent on the Island. As adult butterflies they eat otting fruit, dung, and sap; seldom flower nectar.
More brilliant in appearance is the Ruddy Daggerwing. The tip of Ruddy Daggerwing's forewing is elongated. The hindwing has long dagger-like tails. Upperside is orange with 3 thin black lines. Underside is mottled brown and black, resembling a dead leaf. In caterpillar stage, the Daggerwing can be found living in Common fig trees (Ficus carica) and wild banyan tree (F. citrifolia) in the fig family (Moraceae). As adults their diets are largely nectar from giant milkweed in Florida; Cordia, Casearia, Lantana, and Mikania in the tropics.
But perhaps our favorite on the Island is the Gulf Fritillary, easily and often seen. This "popular" guy has an upperside bright orange with black markings; 3 black-encircled white dots on forewing leading edge. Underside brown; forewing with orange at base; both wings with elongated, iridescent silver spots. As caterpillars, they can be found in various species of passion-vine including maypops (Passiflora incarnata) and running pop (P. foetida). As adult butterflies, their food is nectar from lantana, shepherd\'s needle, cordias, composites, and others.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sanibel is a "tasty" place, and this past Sunday proved the point!
Generally when it comes to a Sanibel event, we like to announce it before, rather than report on it after the fact.
But the Annual Taste of the Islands bears reporting even though it is over.
It appeared to us that this was the largest of the annual tastings, and we think there may have been a couple of reasons for the growth in attendance that are very relevant to vacations on Sanibel.
Looking at all the not only happy but familiar faces, we are left suspecting that some vacationers choose this time of year because of the event. And why not?
Being on Sanibel in November is always a joy. The weather is usually great, the Gulf is often still warm, there are no crowds and accommodations are still at low season rates. It's the best combination of an island vacation, and very special time in this sweet tropical place.
In addition, the combination of the "Taste" being on a three day week-end, at a time when visitors from the USA have school conventions and time off for the kids, and when Europeans are starting to experience the cool and gray weather so common in November in places like Germany and northern France.
We also wonder if the change of venues might have been a draw as well. The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club was an excellent choice with a lovely, spacious setting ....and free parking to boot.
And some of our favorites were again in play. Cip's , Traders, Jacaranda nearly 20 other restaurants were there with their great fare. Food that helps to
But perhaps the most compelling reason for the attention and popularity was the opportunity to support the Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife. C.R.O.W relies heavily on this event. It is their premier fund-raiser of the year. And as C.R.O.W. continues to get known for the wonderful work they do, more and more people want to attend Taste of the Islands as a way to support C.R.O.W. and get to see their friends who are there for the same reason.
So, as a heads up for next year, you might want to consider a fall vacation on Sanibel for you and your family. And there might not be a better time to be here than for the Taste of the Islands.
But the Annual Taste of the Islands bears reporting even though it is over.
It appeared to us that this was the largest of the annual tastings, and we think there may have been a couple of reasons for the growth in attendance that are very relevant to vacations on Sanibel.
Looking at all the not only happy but familiar faces, we are left suspecting that some vacationers choose this time of year because of the event. And why not?
Being on Sanibel in November is always a joy. The weather is usually great, the Gulf is often still warm, there are no crowds and accommodations are still at low season rates. It's the best combination of an island vacation, and very special time in this sweet tropical place.
In addition, the combination of the "Taste" being on a three day week-end, at a time when visitors from the USA have school conventions and time off for the kids, and when Europeans are starting to experience the cool and gray weather so common in November in places like Germany and northern France.
We also wonder if the change of venues might have been a draw as well. The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club was an excellent choice with a lovely, spacious setting ....and free parking to boot.
And some of our favorites were again in play. Cip's , Traders, Jacaranda nearly 20 other restaurants were there with their great fare. Food that helps to
But perhaps the most compelling reason for the attention and popularity was the opportunity to support the Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife. C.R.O.W relies heavily on this event. It is their premier fund-raiser of the year. And as C.R.O.W. continues to get known for the wonderful work they do, more and more people want to attend Taste of the Islands as a way to support C.R.O.W. and get to see their friends who are there for the same reason.
So, as a heads up for next year, you might want to consider a fall vacation on Sanibel for you and your family. And there might not be a better time to be here than for the Taste of the Islands.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Meet some of our crabby neighbors on Sanibel!
We have a lot of nice people living on and visiting our tropical Island.
But we also have a lot of crabs.
No, not human crabs, but the kind that live in our lush vegetation, or crawl on or beaches or live in our trees.
We'd like to introduce you to a few of our favorites as well as hear from you on your favorites as well.
One of most unique neighbors is the hermit crab. What makes the hermit crab so unusual is that he borrows "homes" from other sea creatures. Most frequently hermit crabs use the shells of sea snails . The tip of the hermit crab's abdomen is adapted to clasp strongly onto the columella (central axis) of the snail shell.
As the hermit crab grows in size, it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one. This habit of living in a second hand shell gives rise to the popular name "hermit crab", by analogy to a hermit who lives alone. Several hermit crab species, both terrestrial and marine, use vacancy chains to find new shells: when a new, bigger shell becomes available, hermit crabs gather around it and form a kind of queue from largest to smallest. When the largest crab moves into the new shell, the second biggest crab moves into the newly vacated shell, thereby making its previous shell available to the third crab, and so on. Hermit crabs often "gang up" on a hermit crab that has what they perceive to be a better shell, where they will actually pry its home (shell) away from it and then compete for it, and one will ultimately take it over.
Now how is that for strategic living?
The horse shoe crab is another favorite of ours, perhaps the most unusual looking of all our island crabs. The entire body of the horseshoe crab is protected by a hard carapace. It has two compound lateral eyes , plus a pair of median eyes that are able to detect both visible light and UV-light, a single endoparietal eye and a pair of rudimentary lateral eyes on the top. The latter becomes functional just before the embryo hatches. There is also a pair of ventral eyes located near the mouth. But despite all these eyes, the poor horseshoe crab has relatively poor eyesight. The mouth is located in the center of the legs, where their base have the same function as jaws and helps grinding up food. It has five pairs of legs for walking, swimming, and moving food into the mouth, each with a claw at the tip except the last pair. The long, straight, rigid tail can be used to flip itself over if turned upside down.
Horseshoe crabs are the most commonly seen shell in the area because they are so large and many raccoons like to dine on them.
And speaking of fine dining, we must admit that our number one special crab is the blue crab. Oh, maybe they don't have the wit of the hermit crab or the looks of the horse shoe crab but they sure taste good~!
What is your favorite crab on Sanibel Island?
But we also have a lot of crabs.
No, not human crabs, but the kind that live in our lush vegetation, or crawl on or beaches or live in our trees.
We'd like to introduce you to a few of our favorites as well as hear from you on your favorites as well.
One of most unique neighbors is the hermit crab. What makes the hermit crab so unusual is that he borrows "homes" from other sea creatures. Most frequently hermit crabs use the shells of sea snails . The tip of the hermit crab's abdomen is adapted to clasp strongly onto the columella (central axis) of the snail shell.
As the hermit crab grows in size, it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one. This habit of living in a second hand shell gives rise to the popular name "hermit crab", by analogy to a hermit who lives alone. Several hermit crab species, both terrestrial and marine, use vacancy chains to find new shells: when a new, bigger shell becomes available, hermit crabs gather around it and form a kind of queue from largest to smallest. When the largest crab moves into the new shell, the second biggest crab moves into the newly vacated shell, thereby making its previous shell available to the third crab, and so on. Hermit crabs often "gang up" on a hermit crab that has what they perceive to be a better shell, where they will actually pry its home (shell) away from it and then compete for it, and one will ultimately take it over.
Now how is that for strategic living?
The horse shoe crab is another favorite of ours, perhaps the most unusual looking of all our island crabs. The entire body of the horseshoe crab is protected by a hard carapace. It has two compound lateral eyes , plus a pair of median eyes that are able to detect both visible light and UV-light, a single endoparietal eye and a pair of rudimentary lateral eyes on the top. The latter becomes functional just before the embryo hatches. There is also a pair of ventral eyes located near the mouth. But despite all these eyes, the poor horseshoe crab has relatively poor eyesight. The mouth is located in the center of the legs, where their base have the same function as jaws and helps grinding up food. It has five pairs of legs for walking, swimming, and moving food into the mouth, each with a claw at the tip except the last pair. The long, straight, rigid tail can be used to flip itself over if turned upside down.
Horseshoe crabs are the most commonly seen shell in the area because they are so large and many raccoons like to dine on them.
And speaking of fine dining, we must admit that our number one special crab is the blue crab. Oh, maybe they don't have the wit of the hermit crab or the looks of the horse shoe crab but they sure taste good~!
What is your favorite crab on Sanibel Island?
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