The Ghost Crab

in nature •  7 years ago 

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The ghost crab is a seriously fast crab. When I was small I really struggled to chase them on the beach and to catch them before they disappeared into their burrows or into the sea. As I have gotten older I have been a lot better at catching them when they run as well as digging them out of their burrows.

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Their freaky eyes help them to literally see everything, so it is almost impossible to sneak up on them. Their legs have hairs on them that they use to collect water from the sand so that they can moisten their gills to breath. They can't stay submerged in water too long before they start to drown, even though they have gills. Ghost crabs are also really good at making burrows which can get pretty deep. They use their burrows as protection from the sun and predators.

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They eat practically anything they can get their claws on from vegetation, to dead meat and small sea creatures. They are eaten by sea gulls and sea birds. Their eggs develop while the female carries them after mating, then deposits them in the ocean when they hatch into larvae. They are mostly nocturnal creatures and they are also able to slowly change color to blend into their environment. Because they do this, it is sometimes really hard to spot them on the sand if they don't move.

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Hope you enjoyed it!

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It was the funniest thing to see this crab make a mad dash straight us as we were peacefully enjoying a morning on the beach,,Nice information about the ghost crab,you are so intellectual,followed and upvoted you!!!please visit my blog when you will be free

What a fascinating creature that is!

It really is.

Wen i was a kid, i used to catch lots of crabs with my cousin. I miss those simple beautiful days of my life

They really are special years to remember.

@madiba, you have shared the pictures and story of crabs and convey the message that nature is really beautiful thnx

I am glad that you liked it.

Hey @madiba - I was shocked to see a crab eating a baby turtle. Nature is one cruel mistress at times, but I love it when people capture all forms of its beauty. Thanks for sharing this with us!

Nature is pretty rough some times.

Great post! Interesting little animal :) Thanks for sharing #keepsteemin

Thank you. You have some really good posts on your wall.

ha,ha, really cool pictures!

Thank you! :)

@madiba Really intriguing and insightful submit. Want you the most effective with all of your potential endeavors.

Nice picture

I am glad you liked them. They are not mine though.

Males will fight to the death... as kids we would cover their holes when they came out... if one went into someone elses hole, yep you guessed it.. i stopped doing it after i saw it happen

That is pretty crazy.

beautiful