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Mole Crab / Sand Crab

Emerita (genus)

Description:

Emerita is a small genus of decapod crustaceans, known as mole crabs or sand crabs. These are small animals that burrow in the sand in the wash zone and use their antennae for filter feeding. Emerita has a barrel-shaped body. It has a tough exoskeleton and can hold its appendages close to the body, allowing it to roll in the tidal currents and waves. It has feathery antennae, which are used to filter plankton and detritus from the swash.

Habitat:

This one found dead lying on the sandy beach of Pasir Panjang Segari, Perak, Malaysia.

Notes:

This is my first encounter with the mole crab, I thought it was some kind of sea cockroach or what, but thanks to NickO I finally know what it is.

1 Species ID Suggestions

NickO
NickO 11 years ago
Mole Crab / Sand Crab
Emerita emeritus Emerita (genus)


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3 Comments

loarie
loarie 7 years ago

Emerita emeritus - beautiful sighting! Would you add it to iNaturalist? http://www.inaturalist.org/observations?...

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 11 years ago

Moved to Arthropods.

BenKula
BenKula 11 years ago

Thanks NickO, finally i know what it is.... :)

BenKula
Spotted by
BenKula

PRK, Malaysia

Spotted on Mar 28, 2013
Submitted on Apr 19, 2013

Spotted for Mission

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