Details
Ocypode ceratophthalmus
The ghost crab is a fast coastal crab of Indian and Pacific shores. It digs solitary burrows in sand and forages as a diurnal omnivore.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives on sandy beaches and the front of coastal dunes near the surf. Burrows provide refuge from drying conditions and predators.
Carapace width is about 3-6 cm, and weight about 10-80 g. Pale sand-colored body, tall eye stalks, and long running legs are typical.
It is solitary and treated here as diurnal. It watches from near its burrow and retreats rapidly into sand when alarmed.
It is omnivorous, eating stranded organic matter, small animals, and algae. On beaches it often acts as a scavenger and cleaner.
Females carry eggs under the abdomen and release larvae into the sea. Larvae develop in the water before young crabs return to shore.
Its conservation status is LC. Beach traffic and artificial night lighting can affect local behavior and nesting areas.
