Sandy-beaches
Guides
Cafius
coastal rove beetles
Cafius is a genus of relatively large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, comprising approximately 8 described species in North America and approaching 50 globally. The genus originated in the early Miocene (ca. 17.91 Ma) along the coasts of Europe and Australia, with subsequent diversification driven by transoceanic dispersal via ocean surface currents. Species are obligate inhabitants of coastal marine environments, particularly sandy intertidal zones. The genus is notable for its global distribution across temperate and tropical coastlines and its biological adaptations to saline, dynamic shoreline habitats.
Ocypodidae
Ghost and Fiddler Crabs
Ocypodidae is a family of semiterrestrial crabs comprising approximately 180 described species across 13 extant genera. The family includes two well-known groups: ghost crabs (genus Ocypode) and fiddler crabs (multiple genera including Leptuca and Minuca), plus the mangrove crabs of genus Ucides. Members are characterized by markedly unequal chelipeds in males, with the larger cheliped always exceeding carapace length. The family underwent substantial taxonomic revision in 2016, when the genus Uca was divided into 13 separate genera.