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THE BURROW STRUCTURE OF OCYPODE CURSOR (LINNAEUS, 1758) 
ON THREE SHORES SOUTH OF BEIRUT, LEBANON


John G. Shiber and Samar Izzidin 
American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract
Sixty burrows of the ghost crab, Ocypode cursor (L. 1758) were
investigated from each of three sandy beaches, Ramlet-el-Baida, 
Ouza'i and Sidon approximately 3, 8 and 40 km respectively south
of Beirut, Lebanon. Of the total 180 burrows, the following types
are reported in order of their percent occurence: 1. Slightly bent
burrow (26.0%); 2. Branching burrow (23.8%); 3. Vertically tapering
burrow (21.6%); 4. 90 degree bent burrow (13.8%); 5. U-shaped burrow
(8.8%); 6. Strictly vertical burrow (3.3%) and 7. Multiple (2 and 3)-
opening burrow (2.7%). Topographical variations at each of the three
sandy beaches appear to affect the burrow structure of the crab.