Ocypode ceratophthalmus

Ocypode ceratophthalmus,[2] the horned ghost crab[3] or horn-eyed ghost crab,[4] is a species of ghost crab. It lives in the Indo-Pacific region (except the Red Sea); from the coast of East Africa to the Philippines and from Japan to the Great Barrier Reef. They also occur in the Pacific Islands to as far east as Polynesia and Clipperton Island.[5][6] As their common name implies, O. ceratophthalmus possess eyestalks extending beyond the eyes into long points,[7] which are longer in adults, and shorter (or even absent) in juveniles. The crabs have a box-shaped body, 6–8 centimetres (2.4–3.1 in) across the carapace, with a darker markings towards the rear in the shape of an H. The outer edges of the eye-sheaths are also sharp and broadly triangular and distinctly pointing sideways in larger individuals.[4][5] O. ceratophthalmus can run at speeds of up to 2.1 metres per second (6.9 ft/s).[8]

Ocypode ceratophthalmus
O. ceratophthalmus, Krabi, Thailand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Ocypodidae
Genus: Ocypode
Species:
O. ceratophthalmus
Binomial name
Ocypode ceratophthalmus
(Pallas, 1772) [1]
Synonyms
  • Cancer ceratophthalmus Pallas, 1772
  • Cancer caninus Herbst, 1782
  • Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas, 1772)
  • Ocypode longicornuta Dana, 1852
  • Ocypode brevicornis var. longicornuta Dana, 1852
  • Ocypoda macleayana Hess, 1865
  • Ocypode urvillei Guérin, 1829
  • Ocypode rhombea Weber, 1795

The characteristic "horned" eyes of O. ceratophthalmus are not unique to the species, and it should not be confused with other ghost crabs which also exhibit "horns" on the end of their eyestalks such as O. cursor, O. gaudichaudii, O. macrocera, O. mortoni, O. rotundata, and O. saratan.[5]

Ghost crab at velas beach

References
  1. De Grave, Sammy; et al. (September 15, 2009). "A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology (Supplement 21): 1–109.
  2. "Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas, 1772)". World Register of Marine Species. 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  3. "Ghost crabs". Marine Invertebrates of the National Park of American Samoa. University of Hawaii. November 10, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  4. "Horn-eyed ghost crab Ocypode ceratophthalmus". Wild Singapore. May 2009.
  5. Sakai, Katsushi & Türkay, Michael (June 30, 2013). "Revision of the genus Ocypode with the description of a new genus, Hoplocypode (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature. 56 (2): 665–793.
  6. "Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas, 1872)". Sealifebase. February 25, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  7. Gillikin, David & Verheyden, Anouk (November 11, 2002). "Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas)". A field guide to Kenyan mangroves. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  8. Burrows, Malcolm & Hoyle, Graham (1973). "The mechanism of rapid running in the ghost crab, Ocypode ceratophthalma" (PDF). The Journal of Experimental Biology. 58 (2): 327–349. doi:10.1242/jeb.58.2.327.

Further reading
  • George, R. W. (April 1982). Morton, B. S.; Tsang, C. K. (eds.). "The distribution and evolution of the ghost crabs (Ocypode spp.) of Hong Kong with a description of a new species". Proceedings of the First International Marine Biological Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China. Hong Kong University Press. 1 (1): 185–194.
  • Serène, R. (1977). "Crustacés hippidés et brachyoures des îles Séchelles". Revue de Zoologie Africaine. 91 (1): 45–68.


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