The sand bubbler crab is a small crustacean
that lives on sandy beaches in the tropical
and sub-tropical areas of Indo-Pacific.
These tiny crabs have a carapace width of
less than half an inch (1 cm).
They burrow into soft sediments and consume
organic matter.
They emerge during low tide to feed.
Sand bubbler crabs are known for producing
patterns on tropical beaches in the process
of consuming their food.
They do this by molding unwanted sand into
round pellets and distributing them, creating
intricate patterns.
The sand they pick up is mixed with water
stored in their gill chambers.
This allows them to sort out and consume the
organic matter like detritus and plankton.
Sand bubbler crabs dig burrows that provide
refuge from disturbances, predation, and thermal
extremes.
The burrows also assure the renewal of moisture
loss.
Their burrow entrance is normally in the center
of their sand pattern.
They remain buried in their burrows during
high tide.
Each high tide disintegrates their sand pellets.
Their burrows contain a trapped pocket of
air that the crabs use to breath.
These crabs breathe with their legs.
They have large membranous disks on their
legs that are used this for gas exchange.
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