Species profile
Atlantic Sand Crab
Emerita talpoida
Identify Atlantic Sand Crab (Emerita talpoida) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
At a glance
Atlantic Sand Crab (Emerita talpoida) is a crustacean with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 6,462 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, New Jersey, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Burrows rapidly backward into wet sand as waves recede, disappearing in under a second.
- Feeds by filtering plankton and organic particles from the wave wash with feathery antennae.
- Like its Pacific cousin, it can only move backward, never forward.
- Females are noticeably larger than males of the same species.
- An important food source for shorebirds, striped bass, and other nearshore fish.
Where Atlantic Sand Crab are seen
Background
Emerita talpoida, known generally as the Atlantic mole crab or Atlantic sand crab, is a species of mole crab in the family Hippidae. It is found in Western Atlantic Ocean.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Sand Crab article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Sand Crab?
Atlantic Sand Crab (Emerita talpoida) is a crustacean with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Sand Crab?
Atlantic Sand Crab is Emerita talpoida.
Are there fishing rules for Atlantic Sand Crab?
Atlantic Sand Crab does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Atlantic Sand Crab?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Sand Crab along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.