Atlantic Sand Crab

The Atlantic mole crab inhabits the swash zone of sandy beaches from Cape Cod south to the gulf Coast of Mexico. It is one of seven New World Emerita species.

Like all Emerita species, the Atlantic mole crab is a fossorial filter feeder. It requires moving water in order to feed, and it does so by burrowing itself backwards into the sand. It uses its exposed feathery antennae to filter algae, detritus, and plankton. The Atlantic mole crab is an important food source for the Atlantic ghost crab, the blue crab, and certain species of fish in the swash zone. Shorebirds, notably sanderlings, have also been observed foraging for sand crabs. The combination of its burrowing feeding strategy and its camouflaged carapace assist the Atlantic mole crab in evading predation. Because they spend much of their life in the swash zone, they can serve as a bioindicator for the effects of large-scale engineering works.