The Flickr Horneyedghostcrab Image Generatr

Shoveling sand to build a burrow and an adjacent sandcastle, this horn-eyed ghost crab scoops and carries with the large left claw then flings the sand with the smaller right claw. Individuals exhibit laterality so they are right or left clawed. Males heap the excavated sand high in the intertidal zone of a broad sandy beach, thought to be a territorial signal to other crabs or to attract a potential mate. Running along the beach at speeds of 5 to 10 mph, they must be the world’s fastest crustacean.

A ghost crab combs the strandline looking for edible morsels on a tropical beach.

Ocypode-ceratophthalma - Crabe fantôme cornu - Horned ghost crab or Horn-eyed ghost crab - THAÏLANDE - Ko phi phi don

Ocypode-ceratophthalma - Crabe fantôme cornu - Horned ghost crab or Horn-eyed ghost crab - THAÏLANDE - Khao Lak

Ghost crab emerging from its hole in the sand

Ghost crab popping out of its hole on the beach. Nags Head, North Carolina Outer Banks

Ghost Crab on the beach in the morning, taken at Nags Head Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Shoveling sand to build a burrow and an adjacent sandcastle, this horn-eyed ghost crab scoops and carries with the large left claw then flings the sand with the smaller right claw. Interestingly, individuals are right or left clawed (laterality). Males heap the excavated sand high in the intertidal zone of a broad sandy beach, thought to be a territorial signal to other crabs or to attract a potential mate. Running along the beach at up to 10 mph, they must be the fastest crustacean. Ghost crabs range across the Indo-Pacific and Polynesia. This one’s horns on top of its eye stalks seem a bit diminutive.

animal, wildlife, fauna, marine, invertebrate, crab, ghost crab, horn-eyed ghost crab, crustacea, decapoda, ocypodidae, ocypode, ocypode ceratophthalma, intertidal zone, night, nocturnal, islands, tropical islands, sea, nighttime, tide, straits of malacca, perak, malaysia, asia, september 2021

animal, wildlife, fauna, marine, invertebrate, crab, ghost crab, horn-eyed ghost crab, crustacea, decapoda, ocypodidae, ocypode, ocypode ceratophthalma, intertidal zone, night, nocturnal, islands, tropical islands, sea, nighttime, tide, straits of malacca, perak, malaysia, asia, september 2021

animal, wildlife, fauna, marine, invertebrate, crab, ghost crab, horn-eyed ghost crab, crustacea, decapoda, ocypodidae, ocypode, ocypode ceratophthalma, intertidal zone, night, nocturnal, islands, tropical islands, sea, nighttime, tide, straits of malacca, perak, malaysia, asia, september 2021

The Seychelles as a huge number of different crabs frequenting their beaches.

Pulu Keeling National Park

The Seychelles as a huge number of different crabs frequenting their beaches.

A horn-eyed ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalma) observes another digging a burrow in the intertidal zone of a broad sandy beach. The excavated sand is heaped high, thought to be a territorial signal to other crabs or to attract a potential mate.

Horned Ghost Crab IV

Horned Ghost Crab II

Horned Ghost Crab III

Horned Ghost Crab V