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Atlantic Ghost Crab
ExploreInvertebrate
Atlantic Ghost Crab
ocypode quadrata
The Atlantic Ghost Crab is a fun and speedy little crab that loves to scurry across sandy beaches! With its light color, it can blend in with the sand, making it a sneaky critter to spot!
Habitat: They live on sandy beaches and coastal areas.
Appearance
The Atlantic Ghost Crab is a pale, sandy-colored crab with a squarish body and large, stalked eyes. Its light body color allows it to blend almost perfectly into the beach environment, making it incredibly hard to spot as it scurries across the sand.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderDecapodaFamilyOcypodidaeGenusOcypode
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Baby ghost crabs start life in the ocean and only move onto land as they grow bigger!
Ghost crabs can breathe air but must keep their gills moist, like they have built-in humidifiers!
If a ghost crab loses a leg in a fight, it can amazingly grow a new one back over time!
They make drumming sounds with their claws to talk to other crabs in their sandy neighborhood.
Special abilities
Ability
Sand Camouflage
Atlantic Ghost Crab has a light, sandy exoskeleton that helps them blend seamlessly into the beach to avoid predators.
Ability
Lightning Legs
Atlantic Ghost Crab can run incredibly fast across the sand, reaching speeds of up to 8 km/h, to escape danger.
Ability
Stalked Spy-Eyes
Atlantic Ghost Crab has eyes on tall stalks that give them nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot threats quickly.
Ability
Underground Home Builder
Atlantic Ghost Crab can quickly dig deep burrows in the sand to hide from the sun, extreme weather, and predators.
Measurements & details
- Carapace Width
- 7 cm
- Weight
- 90 g
- Lifespan
- 4 years
- Top Speed
- 8 km/h
Diet & Feeding
An omnivore, it eats tiny ocean creatures, dead plants, and even other crabs!
Primary Foods
- Mole Crabs
- Coquina Clams
- Insects
- Carrion
- Sea Turtle Hatchlings
- Detritus
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Gulls often hunt young crabs on the beach.
eaten by
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons raid beaches at night for crabs.
hunts
Coquina Clam
Donax variabilis
Crabs dig for and consume these small clams.
hunts
Mole Crab
Emerita talpoida
A common food source found in the surf zone.
Traits
Burrowing
Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
Beach CrabGhost CrabSand Crab
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Be careful not to touch their claws, they can pinch!
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Atlantic Ghost Crab?
7 cm
How much does Atlantic Ghost Crab weigh?
90 g
How long does Atlantic Ghost Crab live?
4 years
How fast can Atlantic Ghost Crab move?
8 km/h
What does Atlantic Ghost Crab eat?
An omnivore, it eats tiny ocean creatures, dead plants, and even other crabs!
Where is Atlantic Ghost Crab usually found?
They live on sandy beaches and coastal areas.
How does Atlantic Ghost Crab hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park39 sightings6 species
Florida, US
Saint Andrews State Park
You might spot Great Blue Heron, Laughing Gull, and Florida Rosemary.
View guide →
Park48 sightings5 species
Maryland, US
Assateague State Park
You might spot Domestic Horse, Sanderling, and Atlantic Ghost Crab.
View guide →
Park6 sightings3 species
Florida, US
Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park
You might spot False Rosemary, Willet, and Florida Rosemary.
View guide →
