The Ghost Crab

Ghost crabs get their name from their ability to disappear into the sand very quickly.

These crabs are mainly active at night, but they sometimes come out during the day on quiet beaches. If you go out onto the beach at night with a flashlight, you can catch a glimpse of the ghost crab. Ghost crabs run to the sea at night to wash oxygen in the water over their gills.

The crabs are constantly alert and ready to chase their prey or run away from a predator. These crabs can run very quickly across the sand. They scurry across the sand on their tiptoes forwards, backwards and sideways. Its sandy beige color gives them a natural form of camouflage and defense.

Ghost crabs burrow into the sand and make their homes there. They can see all around them. However, ghost crabs can't see above them, so they must duck into their burrows to hide from preying birds. The crabs also protect themselves and their burrows by making a rubbing noise that warns off intruders.

Feeding activity takes place at night, while burrowing occurs during the day. The ghost crab likes to eat sea turtle eggs and newly hatched sea turtles. They will also eat other crabs, clams, insects and small fish. Large food is sometimes taken back to the home burrow to be eaten.

A female ghost crab will carry her eggs under her tail and lay the eggs in salt water. When the eggs hatch, the larvae hide under the waves at first. When their shells start to grow and harden, they burrow into hard sand and move onto land.