And if all that wasn’t enough responsibility for these claws, they also are used for digging. While most digging crabs use their back legs to burrow backwards into the sand, the shame-faced crab uses the claws like little bulldozers, excavating the sand forward so the crab sinks downward until it is completely covered by the sediment.
Burrowing underground is fine and all, but how does it then breathe? Again, it’s the claws that solve this problem as well. When beneath the sand, the crab regularly shoots a stream of water from its mouth (when you remove one from the water it spits for a few seconds, creating a little fountain that can be up to half a foot long. The crabs themselves are only about two inches thick.) The stream of water ricocheted off the inside of the claws, shooting upward and moving the overlaying sand grains, briefly allowing the crab to take a breath.
Born much darker (almost black) in color as to avoid predation,
Sally Lightfoot crab grows gains more vermillion, as it grows
larger. Nimble-footed and photogenic,these crabs make for
excellent models --though they may be a bit shy for close-ups,
scurrying away sideways, up slopes and even upside down.
Occasionally you may see a crab “spitting” from near its eye.
Actually,the stream of liquid you notice is the Sally Lightfoot
crabs way of expelling salt water that seeps into its exoskeleton.
And if all that wasn’t enough responsibility for these claws, they also are used for digging. While most digging crabs use their back legs to burrow backwards into the sand, the shame-faced crab uses the claws like little bulldozers, excavating the sand forward so the crab sinks downward until it is completely covered by the sediment.
Burrowing underground is fine and all, but how does it then breathe? Again, it’s the claws that solve this problem as well. When beneath the sand, the crab regularly shoots a stream of water from its mouth (when you remove one from the water it spits for a few seconds, creating a little fountain that can be up to half a foot long. The crabs themselves are only about two inches thick.) The stream of water ricocheted off the inside of the claws, shooting upward and moving the overlaying sand grains, briefly allowing the crab to take a breath.
Born much darker (almost black) in color as to avoid predation,Sally Lightfoot crab grows gains more vermillion, as it growslarger. Nimble-footed and photogenic,these crabs make forexcellent models --though they may be a bit shy for close-ups,scurrying away sideways, up slopes and even upside down.Occasionally you may see a crab “spitting” from near its eye.Actually,the stream of liquid you notice is the Sally Lightfootcrabs way of expelling salt water that seeps into its exoskeleton.
Although neither source sites a reference, they support the hypotheses of secreting excess salt and ejecting irritants (sort of). Thanks for the response.More
Breathing during digging
Expelling salt water
Breathing during digging
Expelling salt water
More
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