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Crustaceans of Zihuatanejo

SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Crustaceans (Subphylum Crustacea)

-Typical Crustaceans (Superclass Multicrustacea)

-Malacostracans (Class Malacostraca)

-Decapods, Isopods, and Allies (Subclass Eumalacostraca)

-Decapods and Krill (Superorder Eucarida)

-Decapods (Order Decapoda)

-Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimps, and Allies (Suborder Pleocyemata)

-True Crabs (Infraorder Brachyura)​

-Eubrachyuran Crabs (Zoosection Eubrachyura)

-Thoracotrematan Crabs (Zoosubsection Thoracotremata)

-Superfamily Ocypodoidea

-Ghost and Fiddler Crabs (Family Ocypodidae)

-Ghost Crabs (Subfamily Ocypodinae)

-Ghost Crabs (Genus Ocypode)

-Gulf Ghost Crab (Ocypode occidentalis)


Gulf Ghost Crabs (Ocypode occidentalis) are a species of ghost crabs native to the Pacific coast of the Americas, from California to Panama. Gulf ghost crabs are medium-sized, reaching a maximum overall body diameter of 15 cm. Ghost crabs are omnivorous, feeding on insects, clams, other crabs and the turtle eggs. They will also scavenge for vegetation and detritus. Gulf ghost crabs can easily be distinguished from painted ghost crabs by the absence of "horns" on their eyes.

Gulf Ghost Crab

Ocypode occidentalis

Diet

  • Omnivorous and highly opportunistic, feeding on insects, marine worms, small crabs, clams, turtle hatchlings, carrion, stranded fish, algae, and organic debris.

  • Actively scavenges along the beach at night and will also prey on small animals when the opportunity arises.

  • Uses its powerful claws to dig prey from the sand or capture fast-moving invertebrates.

Range

  • Native to the tropical eastern Pacific, occurring from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Mexico south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and into Colombia.

  • Common along the Pacific coast of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region of Guerrero.

Habitat

  • Inhabits open sandy beaches, coastal dunes, and the upper intertidal zone.

  • Constructs deep burrows above the high-tide line, where it shelters during the day from heat and predators.

  • Emerges mainly at dusk and throughout the night to forage along the shoreline, retreating rapidly into its burrow when disturbed.

Size

  • Carapace width: 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in)

  • Leg span: Up to 15 cm (6 in)

  • Weight: Typically 50–150 g

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