Atlantic Ghost Crab

Ocypode quadrata

Summary 5

Ocypode quadrata, known as the Atlantic ghost crab, is a species of ghost crab, once described as an "occult, secretive alien from the ancient depths of the sea". It is a common species along the Atlantic coast of the United States, where it is the only species of ghost crab; its range of distribution extends from its northernmost reach on Rhode Island's beaches south along the coasts of the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean to the beach...

Comprehensive description 6

Atlantic Ghost Crabs (Ocypode quadrata) are small crabs (up to around 50 mm) with squarish sand-colored shells having margins that are finely beaded but toothless; the claws are white. The space between the eyes is much shorter than the eyestalks. These crabs dig burrows above the intertidal zone on ocean beaches from Delaware (U.S.A.) through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. They are occasionally found north to eastern Long Island and Rhode Island, but are uncommon north of Virginia. Atlantic Ghost Crabs are very active and can often be seen dashing into the retreating surf to wet their gills or to grab scraps of food ("Ocypode" means "swift-footed"), although they will drown if kept submerged. Young crabs burrow just above the intertidal zone, but adults dig their burrows higher up, sometimes even behind the forward dunes. Burrows have a single opening and descend 0.6 to 1.2 meters at a 45 degree angle. Although these crabs are often out and about during the day, they are most active at night. (Gosner 1978)

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Terry Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/78272611@N00/3866409910
  2. (c) Arthur Chapman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/3027248682_344e2929b9_o.jpg
  3. (c) Robby Deans, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Robby Deans
  4. (c) Jessica, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jessica
  5. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocypode_quadrata
  6. (c) Shapiro, Leo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/17763406

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