The best time of year for catching ghost crabs is during the summer, from May to early September. Ghost crabs can be found on coastal beaches around the world, for example in Costa Rica, Hawaii, and the Atlantic coast of the United States. It was sunset and this one was starting his evening hunt on the beach at Henlopen State Park in Delaware.
Ghost Carbs are friendly looking but are packing a powerful sting. Not the tastiest or meatiest but they are edible. Usually found on a quiet beach and they hunt at night to avoid their own predators such as sea birds and racoons. They, on the other hand, are predators dining on the likes of turtle eggs and hatchlings, smaller crabs, insects and anything else they can scavenge.
Ghost Crabs burrow into the sand, typically up to 1.3 m deep (4 feet) deep, for protection from the heat on the hottest part of the day, and throughout the coldest part of the winter. Some of the species can change color to match the sand as camouflage. Interestingly, they are crustaceans but are like fish breathing through gills. Their gills must be kept wet and when ashore get water from moist sand or dip regularly into the ocean shallows.
The shot was taken with A Canon R8 at f/5.6, 1/640 sec and ISO 1600. The shallow depth of field helps give the subject dimension.
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