Ghost Crab
Stalk-eyed Crab
Click to enlarge image
© Shane Ahyong
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Ocypode
- Species
- cordimana
- Family
- Ocypodidae
- Suborder
- Pleocyemata
- Infraorder
- Brachyura
- Order
- Decapoda
- Superorder
- Eucarida
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Subphylum
- Crustacea
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 3.5 cm
Introduction
You will probably only catch a quick glimpse of this fast-moving crab as it races across the sand and disappears into a burrow.
Identification
The Ghost Crab is relatively small and, being almost translucent with flecks of pink and yellow, it is well camouflaged against the sand. If you manage to see one up close, you will notice its eyes are on the end of long stalks.
Habitat
Ghost Crabs live on intertidal beaches.
Distribution
Ghost Crabs are found in tropical waters, from the Kimberley in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland to Sydney, New South Wales.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Ghost Crab stays in the cool protection of its burrow by day and scuttles down to the water at twilight to hunt. The burrow, which is built quite high up on the shore (sometimes over 100 m from the sea), can be over 1 m deep.
