Ghost Crabs

Our November trip to St. George Island State Park introduced me to a new crustacean for my life list: the Ghost (or Sand) Crab. The introduction occurred as we frightened each other causing it to scurry away and me to cry out. I walked along a stretch of beach and saw what appeared to be a shell. I poked it with my toe, and a large creature with long legs and black eyes on stalks jumped up and ran. Not expected a living thing, I exclaimed loudly causing Karl to stop and come in my direction.

Ghost Crab guarding burrow

Ghost Crabs blend into the sand perfectly, and are difficult to see until they start moving. At two to three inches of body size, then adding in the legs, they are a fairly large land crab. The black eyes perch at the end of stalks. As we drove out mornings we saw the crabs warming themselves on the pavement. Actually, we did not see them until they felt the vibration of the van and we suddenly would see them running toward the sand on either side.

 Ghost Crab Burrow

Hanging out on the boardwalk