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Prepare for Freaky, Creepy Mole Crabs on Oregon Coast Beaches

Photos and Story by Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium

(Oregon Coast) – It’s a beautiful day at the beach – in, say, Cannon Beach, Newport, one of those cool hidden spots south of Yachats, Oceanside or maybe the mystical Neskowin. It could be anywhere. You’re wading in the water, careful to watch the breakers for major sneaker waves, and you notice something odd washing past your feet continually.

What are those? Prehistoric little bugs? Miniature turtles? Sand flees? Potatoes bugs?

It’s difficult to tell by the mere looks of them, but they're a type of crab. They’re mole crabs, to be exact.

Don't worry. They don't pinch or bite. In fact, they have small feather-like appendages which they wave through the water to collect plankton. Instead of pinchers they have paddle-like legs which help them burrow quickly into the sand. Mole crabs swim and dig into the sand backwards - that way only their eyes are sticking out of the sand. You’ll see the waves appear to “bubble” as the vast numbers of these creatures are tossed around by the tide and they struggle to burrow themselves into one spot.

You will start to see them now and through the summer, coming up rather heavily in mid or late summer especially. Harmless but a little creepy to feel on your feet, they’re often sought after by fishermen as bait.

They bury themselves backwards in the sand so their breathing tubes can still remain sticking out. By burying themselves, they are protected from predators and they’re stationary long enough to feed.

They dig themselves in using a tail, which they use with a swirling motion, allowing them to change direction with whatever the tide is doing or wherever it’s taking them.

Instead of pinchers, mole crabs have adapted claws to help them dig in the sand. They also come with two sets of antennae: breathing tubes and feeding antennae.

What’s in a name of a mole crab?

Their scientific name is Enerita analoga. The phylum is Arthropoda. Class: Crustacea. Order: Decopoda, and their family is Hippidae.

Mole crabs are related to many other crabs we know, but of course, they’re much smaller than most of the those in their little section of the animal kingdom. They’re in the same order as hermit crabs, true crabs and shrimp.

They normally live on sandy beaches in the surf zone, usually buried in the sand with the breathing antennae sticking out. You’ll find them in the geographic range of Alaska to Chile, but only occasionally found north of Oregon. Northern populations are from larvae that ride the current up the coast.

Now, what does it eat and how does it eat, you’re asking?

Why, plankton of course. These little critters use a second set of antennae to fish through the water. The hairs on the antennae are so fine they can catch bacteria. They don’t fish all of the time, usually only while lounging in the surf zone when the water is a few inches deep.

They ride in and out with the surf to maximize on feeding time. Primarily, they feed while buried in sand. They dig themselves into the surf and wait for the receding wave. Their antennae then catch any phytoplankton coming through, and their appendages then take the catch into their teeny, tiny mouths.

Their shells – or carapaces – get about one inch to 1.4 inches in length.

Their lifespan is about 18 months maximum, usually summer through to the next summer.

Mole crabs reproduce through internal fertilization. The female must molt before reproduction can occur (this is the case with most crabs).

The female carries her eggs under the abdominal area for several months. The eggs are bright orange, and mating season is the spring.

By July, most of the males that were hatched the previous summer have died off. The females will have died off by the winter, leaving only one single generation of them on the beach. Once the winter kicks in and the sand gets too cold, they leave the beach for deeper waters.

These are popular little guys - a huge link in the food chain. Seagulls, sandpipers and surf perch make steady meals out of them. They are popular with many people on the east coast as bait for fishing.

To see live mole crabs, head to the Seaside Aquarium. 503-738-6211.

Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com.

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