Sand bubbler crab
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Sand bubbler crabs are nocturnal crabs of the genus Scopimera. As the tide sets, thousands emerge from their homes burrowed deep beneath the sand. They start their feeding of the beach, they feed off microscopic material in between the sand grains, cleaning the sand as they go. As the sand is stripped of any nutritious bits, the crabs gather it into a regular sphere and toss it over their backs.
Several species of sand bubbler crab occur around the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from East Africa to Hawaii, including much of Asia and Australia.
The sand bubbler crabs carve grooves into the sand, and quickly sift out detritus with their mouthparts, leaving behind rolled up balls of sand. The crabs return to their burrows when threatened.
