Non-native ghost crabs, nocturnal species that can burrow up to half a metre in the sand, have found a new haunt on two beaches here.
They remain in their burrows during the hottest part of the day and throughout the coldest part of the winter.
Individual specimens of the crab were observed in the past few weeks by biologist Alan Deidun and fauna expert Arnold Sciberras after being tipped off by Noel Attard and Marika Grech, who visited the beaches in question.
Over 100 burrows of the same crab, a protected species under both Maltese and European environmental legislation, were seen on one of the beaches, along with the characteristic walking tracks left by the crabs in the sand.
Both adult and juvenile crabs were observed, with the adults having a maximum diameter of 16 centimetres.
Prior to this discovery, only one individual ghost crab had been recorded locally
Prior to this discovery, only one individual ghost crab had been recorded locally, and the finding was dismissed as a one-off.
The ghost crab species is mainly found on sandy beaches in the eastern half of the Mediterranean, particularly in Greece and Turkey, as well as occasionally on some beaches in southern Sicily and Lampedusa.
Prof. Deidun and Mr Sciberras will be publishing their findings in a peer-reviewed journal.
Prof. Deidun said he would be passing on the details of the find to the Environment and Resources Authority in view of the protected status of the species.
This is being done so the management team on the beaches in question will to be able to respond accordingly. The researchers said, being on the eve of another summer season, the challenge will be for the ghost crab to survive the daily flocking of thousands of bathers to the two beaches.
Ghost crabs are adversely affected by human activity on sandy beaches, particularly due to the risk of trampling and the presence of inorganic pollutants.
The crabs are fast runners, often darting away at even the slightest sign of danger. They usually head back to their burrows or run into the sea to escape any perceived threat.
There are roughly 20 species of ghost crabs worldwide. The species found in Malta is the Ocypode cursor.
The names of the two beaches have been withheld until adequate safeguards are put in place.