sally

 This is a Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus), and the name comes from sailor folklore.

Canon R5, canon 100-500mm L IS USM lens at 500mm. 1/640s f7.1 ISO640.

Early sailors said these crabs were so quick, agile, and seemingly impossible to catch that they danced away “light as a feather,” like a nimble woman dancing in a seaside tavern — a “light-footed Sally.”

I was looking for a unique shot of these very photographed colourful animals when I managed to creep on this one - as they are very shy. As I looked closer I saw that it was blowing foamy bubbles around its mouthparts, which were then being blown back over its body in the wind. This happens when they need  to keep their gills moist, as out of water, they pump seawater or mucus through their mouthparts, mixing it with air and creating bubbles. The bubbles look rainbow-coloured as they act like tiny soap films, with thin layers of water and iridescent reflection.

The crab is perched on volcanic rock, a classic Galápagos habitat, and its body posture suggests it’s in alert mode — raising its claws slightly, ready to dart.

I had to get very low down to the same height and close enough for the detail, using the best light to get the bubbles at their most iridescent.