Habitat: Ocypode quadrata is an active crab that will build deep burrows right above the tide line. Distribution: This species has been reported from the Western Atlantic Ocean. Natural History Notes: This species is amazingly well adapted to terrestrial environments, returning only occasionally to the water to wet its gills. It has also evolved a way to moisten its gills by extracting water from damp sand, using fine hairs near the base of its walking legs to wick ground water up onto the gills through capillary action. Howver, despite this semi-terrestrial existence, ghost crabs have to be near the sea because this is where the ovigerous female will release its hatched eggs. Depth: Burrows of up to 1.5 m deep. Characteristics: This species has a carapace length of 5 cm. The body and the legs have a pale, creamy coloration and the claws are whitish. The eyes are black. We can recognize it by its way to stand erect on the tips of its legs. Notes: The ghost crab is nocturnal and is recognized as a predator and a scavenger. It will sometimes feed on smaller crab species, such as fiddler crabs.