The tufted ghost crab (Ocypode cursor) feeding on stranded loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the southeastern Mediterranean

Abstract

1The tufted ghost crab Ocypode cursor is a widespread and ecologically significant inhabitant of Mediterranean sandy beaches, including those of Israel, where it is a characteristic component of the coastal ecosystem. An opportunistic omnivore, O. cursor feeds on a broad range of marine and terrestrial resources, including carrion, and has been reported elsewhere preying on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings and scavenging large carcasses. However, feeding on stranded adult sea turtles, particularly loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), have not previously been documented in the Mediterranean Sea. During a survey assessing ghost crab populations at Zikim Dunes Nature Reserve (southeastern Mediterranean, Israel) in August 2021, we observed five recently stranded C. caretta carcasses encircled by freshly dug O. cursor burrows, located inland from the high tide line. Burrows surrounding the carcasses were predominantly large-sized, suggesting relocation of adult crabs toward carrion situated landward of their typical supratidal zone. Our findings highlight the opportunistic scavenging behavior of O. cursor and underscore their ecological flexibility in exploiting substantial food resources beyond their usual distribution band. These novel observations contribute to understanding ghost crab trophic ecology and their potential interactions with vulnerable marine species in a changing coastal environment.