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Galápagos Ghost Crab

Ocypode gaudichaudii Playa las Bachas, Isla Santa Cruz Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

#new scientist #crabs #ghost crabs #other stuff

Have you seen the golden ghost crab (Ocypode convexa)?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onSep 8, 2025

This very determined little dude (a Galápagos Ghost Crab) was dragging this rather large stick with him. Not sure what he was planning on doing with it or where he was taking it, but he was clearly on a Very Important Crab Mission!

#crabs #crabs everywhere #crab #just crab things #galapagos #galapagos ghost crab #ghost crabs #jadewolf adventures #jadewolf in galapagos #jadewolf in ecuador #jadewolf photography

TINY CRABS ARE MAJOR PREDATORS OF FLATBACK TURTLE HATCHLINGS

Flatback turtles (Natator depressus) face predation risks during their hatchling stage on Thevenard Island, Western Australia. A recent study found that while no egg predation occurred, about 30% of hatchlings were consumed, primarily by ghost crabs (Ocypode convexa). Gulls and Caspian terns were also observed preying on hatchlings, although these were less common.

The absence of egg predation is unexpected and may be explained by the strategic nesting choices of female turtles or the composition of the eggshells. Despite these protective mechanisms, the survival rate from egg to hatchling remains vulnerable.

- Ghost crabs (encircled), and silver gulls and a Caspian tern predating on flatback turtle hatchlings emerging from nests, recorded by infra-red video camera on Thevenard Island, Pilbara region, Western Australia.

Conservation strategies must address these predation threats, particularly by targeting human disturbances and reducing predator populations in key nesting areas. These findings offer vital insights into the challenges affecting flatback turtle populations and their long-term recovery.

Photograph: Golden ghost crab by kaiwolfe

Reference (open access): Avenant et al. 2024. Predation rates on flatback turtle Natator depressus eggs and hatchlings at an island rookery. Mar Biol.