Mole Crab (Emerita analoga)

Other Names: Pacific mole crab, sand crab

Description: Often confused for a shrimp or lobster with a missing tail, mole crabs have an unusual shaped carapace. They are typically 4cm (1.5 in) or less and look like a sandy grey oval with flat legs and fuzzy antenna. They use their claw-less legs to bury themselves in the sand with just their antennas above ground.

Habitat: Mole crabs range from Alaska to Baja California. They are common on on sandy beaches and prefer to be buried in sand right along the waterline. In Cannon Beach they can be found along the entire length of the beach.

Diet: While buried in the sand, mole crabs use their antennas to catch food, primarily plankton.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Mole crabs are the only crabs that walk backwards.

• In the summer it is common to see females with thousands of bright orange eggs attached to their undersides.

References: Costal Interpretive Center, NPS