Mole crabs: Tiny creatures of the surf

Look carefully at this mole crab. Its head on the right side of the photo. Can you see its antennae peeking out?

Imagine living in a place where the salty ocean water crashes against you. Where every wave pounds against the sand, a place of noise and crashing water. To the tiny mole crab, this is home sweet home.

If you have ever visited a beach, you have probably seen one of these creatures. They are one of the few creatures to live in the area of the beach called the surf zone, where the water meets the sand. Like other crabs, mole crabs have ten legs. If you have ever held one, you probably know that they love to dig!

This digging is what helps them to survive in the surf zone. Mole crabs always dig backwards into the sand. As waves crash over them, they stick out their antennae. Bits of food are always churning about in the ocean water. These food bits stick to their antennae. Then the mole crabs can eat the food!

Digging also helps mole crabs to escape from predators. Sea gulls find them pretty tasty. Larger crabs, like ghost crabs, will also eat them. And people often collect mole crabs to use as bait for fishing.

But mole crabs are more than just prey. They are fascinating little creatures, tiny crabs that live in a harsh place. Mole crabs can be found in many different areas, and have many different names. In some places, they are called sand crabs. They are also called beach hoppers.

The next time you find one, observe it carefully. Can you find its antennae? How many legs does it have? Can you see it digging backwards? These little creatures have a lot to share!