The two vertical eye stalks of the red ghost crab can be swung sideways independently. More specifically a single eye stalk can be lowered sideways by 90 degrees into an oblong furrow in the upper part of the carapace to facilitate its easy and rapid entry, when confronted by predators - human in most instances - into the narrow diameter of its burrow, as can be seen in the first photo, it ready to lunge downwards as I approached, a baleful single eye stalk watching me warily..
In the second photo the beast is snugly ensconced inside the confines of its hole.There is no such thing as claustrophobia in crabs!!!!
Machilipatnam Beach, July 19, 2019. Andhra Pradesh.











