Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Sand Crabs
Let us understand the lifecycle of Tiny crabs that live in the ‘Swash zone’ of the beach
Name – Sand crabs
Scientific name- Emerita
Size- 2cm – 5cm
Distribution & Habitats
Sand crabs are found on the beaches of Africa, the United States, and Australia in the Atlantic and Indo-pacific oceans, respectively.
Sand crabs are seen on the Beaches and Dunes. They are the ‘ Swash zone’.The Swash zone consists of the waves of the sea that are extended towards the Beach or shore. A large wave is broken and forms a small wave that oscillates towards the shore.
Appearance
Sand crabs are not True crabs, they lack the claws to grasp. Sand crabs have Grey coloured bodies that are well-camouflaged in the Sand.
The overall appearance is a domed barrel-shaped shell, a pointed tail and legs, as well as many pairs of Antennae.
They burrow themselves in the sand into the depth till their eyes and one tiny antenna are visible. They can only move in a backward direction.
Sand crabs are solitary.
Diet-
Sand crabs eat Plankton and Dinoflagellates.
They catch the prey with Antennae, which have feather-like projections that filter the unnecessary substance.
Reproduction –
Summer and spring are the breeding seasons of Sand crabs.
A female lays around 45,000 eggs and carries them on her abdomen.
Eggs hatch within a month. No parental care is foreseen in these crabs. The hatchlings spread in different directions along with waves.
Larvae can swim and mature at age of 1 year.
Sand crabs leave for about 2-3 years.
Also See ⇒ Needlefish