Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab

Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab Latest News

Recently, researchers documented unique predatory behaviour of horn-eyed ghost crab at Rushikonda Beach.

About Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab

• It belongs to the genus Ocypode.
• Their pale bodies blend seamlessly with the sand, and combined with their swift movements during dawn and dusk, this has led to their common name, “ghost crabs”.
• It is widely regarded as a keystone species and indicator of coastal health.
• Six species of ghost crabs have been reported along the Indian coastline.
• Habitat: It is usually found in the intertidal zones.
• Distribution:  It lives in the Indo-Pacific region (except the Red Sea); from the coast of East Africa to the Philippines and from Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.
• Threats: Pollution, changes in sediment distribution, rising sea temperatures and altered tidal patterns may prompt species to explore new microhabitats in search of food.

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Characteristics of Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab

• It has traditionally been described as a scavenger within the intertidal food web.
• Diet: They hunt clams, snails, worms, isopods, shrimps and a variety of insects. They also prey on other crabs, including smaller hermit crabs.

Ecological Role of Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab

• It plays a crucial ecological role in sandy intertidal environments. 
• They influence the distribution and abundance of smaller organisms through their feeding habits and the deep burrows they build. 

Source: TH