Saturday Critters - Atlantic Ghost Crab
If you spend a few hours on a secluded Atlantic coast beach, you might run into several Ghost Crabs.
Atlantic Ghost Crabs are terrestrial but must return to the water to wet their gills. We have seen small parades of them at the beach in Strathmere, NJ. We wonder if there is safety in numbers. They make burrows in the sand above the strandline. According to Wikipedia, the burrows can be up to 4 feet deep.
Their compound eyes are on stalks and can swivel 360 degrees. They feed on other small animals, clams, insects, and even turtle eggs.
They are very shy and can run faster than you can! I've never seen anyone capture one. Thank you to Viewing Nature with Eileen for hosting Saturday Critters.
Great captures of the Ghost Crabs! I have seen them on the beaches in Maryland and Virginia.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.
Thank you for the challenge and the comment.
DeleteThese are great photos of the crabs. We don't really see a lot of crabs over here in Scotland. That are great looking creatures I think :-D
ReplyDeleteThey are very entertaining to watch on the beach.
DeleteInteresting post.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteCool critters!
ReplyDeleteThanks we enjoy spotting them when we sit on the beach.
DeleteThere are so many interesting things on the beach. I walk slow....so I see a lot!
ReplyDeleteMy happiest times are walking on the beach, searching for treasures...shells, sea glass, driftwood.
DeleteHow interesting, and great photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun and interesting to watch them. They are very lively...and smart.
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