Ghost Crab

beach creature · nocturnal · swift runners

Pale and ghostly. Ghost crabs got their name because they're almost white or see-through colored and only come out hunting at night, making them look like spooky beach ghosts.

Speedy sprinters. Their scientific name means "swift foot" in ancient Greek, and they can zip across the sand incredibly fast to catch prey or escape danger.

Deep burrow builders. Ghost crabs dig deep tunnels in the sand along the shoreline where they rest during the day and hide from predators.

Grab-bag eaters. These crabs are not picky eaters and will hunt small animals or scavenge whatever they find on the beach at night.

Warm water dwellers. You'll find ghost crabs on tropical and subtropical beaches all around the world, wherever sandy shores meet warm oceans.