Species · GBIF taxon 2225698
Pacific Sand Crab
Emerita analogaAlso known as Pacific Mole Crab, Coldwater Mole Crab
Pacific sand crabs live in a state of constant motion, riding the waves up and down the beach to stay within the wet, shifting sands of the swash zone. They burrow backward into the sand in a matter of seconds, leaving only their feathery antennae exposed to filter plankton from the receding surf. These small, egg-shaped crustaceans form the vital core of the sandy beach food web, sustaining countless shorebirds and surf fish.
BurrowingIntertidalMarine
- diet
- Plankton and organic detritus filtered from the waves
- family
- Hippidae
- threats
- Coastal development, beach grooming, oil spills, and ocean acidification
- life Span
- Up to 3 years
NE
Safe to observe and gently handle at the water's edge.
- Scoop Gently: Dig into the wet sand just after a wave recedes to find them burrowing backward into your palm.
- Watch the Antennae: Look for tiny, V-shaped ripples in the wet sand as waves retreat to spot their feeding filters.
- Return Quickly: Always release them back into the wet swash zone so they can quickly reburrow and avoid drying out.