Project Description
Mole Crab
Emerita talpoida
Range/Geographical Distribution: Cape Cod to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat: Open sandy beaches between high and low-tide lines.
Description: Egg-shaped crab that is pale gray/tan in color.
Size: Can reach one inch in length.
Food: Plankton and organic debris.
Breeding: Sexual reproduction, the small males become semi-parasitic during mating. Female carries the bright orange eggs until they hatch into planktonic larvae.
Predators: Shorebirds, crabs, and fish.
Conservation Status: No legal status.
Interesting Facts: Mole crabs are completely harmless; they cannot bite, pinch, or sting. Also called sand fleas, these crustaceans are one of a fisherman’s favorite baits.
On the Coast: Mole crabs live beneath the crashing waves along Georgia’s beaches and move up and down the sand with the tides.