Weekly Invertebrate Blogging: Mole Crabs

Click the image for a larger view.	Class: Crustacea Order: Decapoda Scientific Name: Emerita talpoida Favorite Food: Marine backwash. Turn-ons: Sand. Tern-offs: Terns, gulls and those f*ing plovers. Current Hangout: Burrow of Queens. Catchphrase: Can you dig it? Favorite Poet: Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin Favorite Song: "The Tide is High"
I photographed these mole crab carcasses last weekend on the nearly deserted beach at Jacob Riis Park in Queens. A lot of people refer to these little guys as "sand crabs."  I'm not sure what led to the demise of these specimens, but they do not survive outside of their burrows for long. The best way to observe a live one is to find an opening to one of their burrows just as the tide is receding, stick your finger in and whirl it around until you've exposed the crab. They can't pinch or bite, but make sure not to extract them from their sandy dens, because they will be vulnerable to shorebirds and exposure to the drying sun. Like its namesake, the mole crab likes to dig. I've included some photos of other "mole" creatures below to help avoid confusion in identifying specimens in the field.
Mole Mole Cricket Mole Man

Please visit The Friday Ark at Modulator for more pics of critters both spined and spineless.

Comments

[Dope]

We always referred to these wee creatures as sand fleas.

We did too, but there are actual "sand fleas"(aka "sand flies"), and they BITE!

[Wen]

This is interesting. We always referred to these wee creatures as sand fleas. It's nice to know that they have a "real" name.~wen

[an]

that's what a mole looks like?!? i never knew. wow.

[bashir]

is good
i think is need vist carcass thankes

[Dope on the Slope]

No one can accuse you of being gullible.

[Steve-o]

Tern-offs. I get it. A-ha.