Ocypode

For the harpy in Greek mythology, see Ocypete.

Ocypode
Horned ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalma) from Kona, Hawaii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Ocypodidae
Subfamily: Ocypodinae
Genus: Ocypode
Weber, 1795 [1]
Type species
Cancer ceratophthalmus
Pallas, 1772
Species

See text

Synonyms[2]
  • Ceratophthalma MacLeay, 1838
  • Monolepis Say, 1817
  • Ocypoda Lamarck, 1801
  • Parocypoda Neumann, 1878

Ocypode is a genus of ghost crabs found in the sandy shores of tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. They have a box-like body, thick and elongated eyestalks, and one claw is larger than the other in both males and females. They inhabit deep burrows in the intertidal zone. They are primarily nocturnal, and are generalist scavengers and predators of small animals. The genus contains 21 species.

  1. ^ Sammy De Grave; N. Dean Pentcheff; Shane T. Ahyong; et al. (2009). "A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 21: 1–109.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sakai was invoked but never defined (see the help page).