Golden ghost crab

Golden ghost crab
A golden ghost crab from Gnaraloo, Western Australia
A golden ghost crab covered with epibiotic growth, making it appear pink
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Ocypodidae
Genus: Ocypode
Species:
O. convexa
Binomial name
Ocypode convexa
Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Ocypode convexa distribution range
(in green)
Synonyms[1]

Ocypode convexa, commonly known as the golden ghost crab, or alternatively the western ghost crab or yellow ghost crab, is a species of ghost crabs endemic to the coast of Western Australia, from Broome to Perth. They are relatively large ghost crabs, with a carapace growing up to 45 mm (1.8 in) long and 52 mm (2.0 in) wide. They are easily recognisable by their golden yellow colouration. Like other ghost crabs they have box-like bodies with unequally sized claws. They also have large eyestalks with the cornea occupying most of the bottom part.

Golden ghost crabs are common inhabitants of open sandy beaches, living in burrows in the intertidal and supratidal zones. They are predominantly nocturnal and semi-terrestrial. They are a generalist species, feeding on carrion and debris, as well as preying on small animals. Along with the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), they are significant as one of the main predators of eggs and hatchlings of Western Australian sea turtles, particularly the Endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) which has one of the largest rookeries in the region.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference sakai was invoked but never defined (see the help page).