Pensacola Beach Blogger

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Ghost Crabs

Found this little ghost crab on my walk on the beach the other day.

If you’re gonna try ghost crab hunting, you have to be quick! These guys run at speeds of 10 mph! They also will hide in their holes when they get too close:

Some other fun facts about ghost crabs:

  • They can see 360 degrees with their eyes that stick out from their head, but they can not see directly up. They burrow and hide in the sand during the day to protect themselves from birds.
  • Ghost crab tunnels are about four feet deep!
  • When the sun begins to set, these crabs run to the water to have the water flow over their gills.
  • Ghost crabs hibernate in the winter, and store enough oxygen in sacs near their gills to be able to sleep for six months.
4 comments

4 Comments so far

  1. loren August 9th, 2010 11:44 pm

    My friend found and caught a ghost crab and she called it Sweetie and she loved forever and she’s very upset that she had to let it go!

  2. Amanda Day September 4th, 2010 9:10 pm

    i have about 15 of these lil guys,I’m at Panama City. The gulf… I would love to take these home, i have them in sand in a small cage… Can I keep these alive for my daughter.. What would i feed them , and what about water>? getting bk to me would be Great.. I don’t wana kill them, Thanks. Amanda,

  3. mercedes March 21st, 2011 3:09 pm

    im doing a project on a ghost crab isn’t that gonna be cool

  4. Giulia May 31st, 2012 5:12 pm

    I think these little creatures are really cute. My teacher told us to do a project on an animal in florida and do research on it and then make a poster with information and pictures,(the poster has 4 pages) and its really cool that i picked the ghost crab because i didnt even know this animal existed and i know nothing about it but now that ive finished the project and did some research on them, now i know more about them, these creatures are so cool anyways your facts also helped me put some more information on my project so thanks:)
    -Giulia

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