Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata)
The Atlantic ghost crab is a prevalent species found along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Its habitat extends from the northern beaches of Massachusetts, down through the tropical coasts of the Western Atlantic Ocean, reaching as far south as the beaches of southern Brazil.
When fully grown, this species reaches up to 5 cm (2 inches) in size. As adults, they exhibit a greyish or straw-like coloration. To keep their gills moist, they periodically return to the water. They benefit from 360° vision due to their stalked compound eyes. The young are cryptically colored to camouflage seamlessly with the sandy environments of their habitats.
These photos were taken on the beaches of Buritaca, in Santa Marta, Colombia.
