diffused across the gills within the chambers, ultimately entering the crab’s open circulatory system. Studies of aromatic respiration in land crabs have been conducted in the past, with the 5 species studied displaying a slow respiration response to exercise. However, it was found that the respiration and oxygen uptake response to exercise in O. gaudichaudii is more similar to that of mammals with high aerobic responses than what was previously found in other species of land crabs. The high aerobic respiration provides strong contradictions to the common theory that crustacean oxygen transport systems are inefficient. It also suggests that the main energy source for continuous mobility in ghost crabs such as O. gaudichaudii is aerobic ATP, much like mammals and other animals that use aerobic ATP in a similar manner. Ocypode crabs are known to use acoustic signals as reproductive behavior, specifically air-borne sounds and vibrations of surrounding substrates through rapping or stridulating. Nocturnal vibrational signals from male Ocypode crabs are an important factor in courtship and reproductive behaviors. Ecology and behavior Adult painted ghost crabs deposit feed on microscopic organic matter found in the sand, reaching their food by digging or foraging through the sand. Juveniles exhibit predatory feeding and commonly prey on small arthropods. All crabs of the Ocypode genus use their mandibles to break food into smaller pieces to aid in ingestion. When adults, painted ghost crabs become specialized in deposit feeding and sift through the sand to find organic material as food. After ingesting the organic matter, the non-digestible particles are formed into pellets that are then excreted from the buccal cavity. The size of their carapace and presence of truncated claws has been shown to influence their diet. Individual O. gaudichaudii with carapaces larger than 12.3mm and exhibiting truncated claws prey upon either animals, diatoms, or a mix of both. Those smaller than such and with no truncated claws were found to have eaten solely animals. Both visual cues along with chemosensory are important for locating prey within the sand substrates. Chemoreceptors along painted ghost crab’s walking legs and chelipeds (legs with pincer-like organs) may play a vital part in locating prey within the substrate with precision over short distances. The movement of the tide influences behavior and activity patterns of male and female painted ghost crabs. When the tide recedes and the burrows are safe from oncoming water, both male and female crabs travel