Summary
Every wave threatens to sweep a Pacific mole crab away -- so it digs backward into the sand in a flash and unfurls feathery antennae to strain food from the water. Deep Look shows how this crab is built to live right in the crashing surf.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
The mole crab has paddle-like legs for burrowing backward fast and feathery antennae for filtering tiny food out of the retreating wave. Both structures are shaped for life in the pounding, shifting surf zone.
- What two jobs do a mole crab's body parts do in the surf?
- Why does digging in fast help the crab survive each wave?
- How do feathery antennae help it catch food from the water?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: burrow, antennae, filter, structure.
Try it: Wiggle your fingers down into a cup of dry sand or rice. Write how the mole crab digs backward to hold its place in the waves.