Look Who Came to Visit

I don't know if I mentioned it when I wrote past posts about my trips to Islamorada, but Ma's sister (my hu-Aunt) lives there and it is at her house that we stay when we head down to the upper or middle Florida Keys.

Her house is located on the Florida Bay side (west side) of Islamorada and the bay is just a short walk from her house. Many of the houses there, including my Aunt's, are on stilts - just in case a hurricane decides to flood the island - and, at my Aunt's there is a patio under the house where you can sit, walk, etc. Usually, there aren't any anipals under there; at least, not when I am there and I have checked often!

Anyway, my Aunt sent us this photo the other night when she arrived home and was walking under the house:

Hermit Crab

Yep, a hermit crab! I saw lots of these anipals at the beach the last time I was in Islamorada. They were everywhere - deep in the water, in shallow puddles in the coral lining the beach - and they came in all sizes, from tiny babies to fairly big adults. Hermit crabs are pretty cool because when you get too close they hide away and just look like an ordinary shell. Great camouflage!

I was curious because I thought this hermit crab was a bit far from his "home" in the water. I mean, it's a short walk for me to the bay but this guy's legs are way smaller than mine!

You can't really tell how big he is from the first photo so my Aunt took a second one, this time putting her size 9 foot next to the hermit crab. See:

Isn't he gigantic?!?  I have not seen one this big in person but I hope next time I go to visit I get to see this hermit crab!  Hopefully he will be back for another visit...something to look forward to...