Crustacean

Atlantic ghost crab

Ocypode quadrata

Sandy beaches and dunes along ocean and estuary shores

Photo: (c) Brandon McCracken, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Sandy beaches and dunes along ocean and estuary shores
Habitat zone: Above the high-tide line and into coastal dunes
Viewing activities: Beach / tidepool

What to look for

A pale, square-bodied crab with prominent eyestalks, long legs, and unequal claws.

What it eats

Small shore animals and scavenged material.

Life and behavior

Usually active at night and shelters in sand burrows.

Wider distribution

Western Atlantic shores, from Rhode Island to Brazil.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Atlantic ghost crab been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

Sources, search boundaries and limitations