Ghost Crabs have eyes on the end of short stalks. They can raise them up or lay them sideways in grooves in their shell.
Common name: Ghost Crab
Scientific name: Ocypode cordimana Photo: Dr I. Bennett
There is another species of Ghost Crab around the Sydney area. See if you can find out what it is.
Beach
Ghost Crab
Ghost Crabs live in the oceans around tropical and sub-tropical Australia, on sandy shores, and in deep burrows above the waterline.
Ghost Crabs have large eyes at the end of short eyestalks.
Ghost Crabs are light grey in colour with a rounded shell. They have large eyes at the end of short eyestalks. Ghost Crabs are 3.5 cm wide across the shell.
Ghost Crabs eat small particles of dead plants and animals. They also eat algae and micro-organisms.
Ghost Crabs come out of their burrows to feed at night. They scoop up sand and mud with their front claws and they sift through it for food. They drop the unwanted sand and mud in the proess.
Birds and fish eat Ghost Crabs.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
