Golden ghost crabs are relatively large and robust ghost crabs with strong legs and claws.
Their carapace is deep and box-like in shape, and can grow to a length of up to 45 mm (1.8 in) and a width of 52 mm (2.0 in).
They are easily identifiable by their colouration.
As their common name implies, the overall colour of golden ghost crabs is usually creamy white to a rich golden yellow with faint brown markings.

Like other ghost crabs, the eyestalks of golden ghost crabs are large and swollen, with the cornea occupying the lower surface.
Their tips do not extend into a spike (style) making them easy to distinguish from the similarly-sized horned ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalma) which also occurs in Western Australia.
The upper margins of the eye orbits curve around the bases of the eyestalks, then gently curve again towards the sides of the carapace.
The outer edges of the upper margins of the eye orbits are triangular in shape and distinctly pointing forward.
The lower margins of the eye orbits have deep notches on the center and on the sides.

The carapace is wider than it is long, being broadest at the width between the outer edges of the eye orbits.
The upper surface is covered densely with small bumps (tubercles) that gradually become sparser towards the anterolateral regions.
The carapace bulges outward on the outer thirds and is separated from the central regions by shallow furrows.

As in other members of the family Ocypodidae, one of the claw appendages (chelipeds) of golden ghost crabs is much larger than the other.
This occurs in both males and females, though the difference is much more pronounced in males.

The palm (propodus) of both larger and smaller chelipeds are covered coarsely with large irregularly-arranged tubercles on the outer surface, giving them a rough appearance.
The larger claw is longer than it is wide, with its upper and lower edges possessing rows of spine-like tubercles, arranged irregularly on the upper margin and regularly on the lower margin.
The inner surface of the palm of the larger claw in both sexes features stridulating (sound-producing) ridges, which is important for identifying different species within the subfamily Ocypodinae.
In golden ghost crabs, the stridulating ridge is composed of a row of 19 to 24 tubercles.
The smaller cheliped tapers towards a pointed end.

The propodi of the first and second pair of walking legs possess bristles (setae) on the upper surfaces and the upper margins, while the propodi of the third and fourth pair of walking legs are naked.
The first gonopod (appendages modified into sexual organs) of the male is three-sided in cross-section at the base, narrowing towards a sideways-curving tip.
A bulging palp is present at the sides near the tip.
The rim of the genital opening in females is horn-shaped and located in front of the genital covering (operculum).
The operculum is rounded in shape.
Golden ghost crabs are relatively large and robust ghost crabs with strong legs and claws. Their carapace is deep and box-like in shape, and can grow to a length of up to 45 mm (1.8 in) and a width of 52 mm (2.0 in). They are easily identifiable by their colouration. As their common name implies, the overall colour of golden ghost crabs is usually creamy white to a rich golden yellow with faint brown markings.
Like other ghost crabs, the eyestalks of golden ghost crabs are large and swollen, with the cornea occupying the lower surface. Their tips do not extend into a spike (style) making them easy to distinguish from the similarly-sized horned ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalma) which also occurs in Western Australia. The upper margins of the eye orbits curve around the bases of the eyestalks, then gently curve again towards the sides of the carapace. The outer edges of the upper margins of the eye orbits are triangular in shape and distinctly pointing forward. The lower margins of the eye orbits have deep notches on the center and on the sides.
The carapace is wider than it is long, being broadest at the width between the outer edges of the eye orbits. The upper surface is covered densely with small bumps (tubercles) that gradually become sparser towards the anterolateral regions. The carapace bulges outward on the outer thirds and is separated from the central regions by shallow furrows.
As in other members of the family Ocypodidae, one of the claw appendages (chelipeds) of golden ghost crabs is much larger than the other. This occurs in both males and females, though the difference is much more pronounced in males.
The palm (propodus) of both larger and smaller chelipeds are covered coarsely with large irregularly-arranged tubercles on the outer surface, giving them a rough appearance. The larger claw is longer than it is wide, with its upper and lower edges possessing rows of spine-like tubercles, arranged irregularly on the upper margin and regularly on the lower margin. The inner surface of the palm of the larger claw in both sexes features stridulating (sound-producing) ridges, which is important for identifying different species within the subfamily Ocypodinae. In golden ghost crabs, the stridulating ridge is composed of a row of 19 to 24 tubercles. The smaller cheliped tapers towards a pointed end.
The propodi of the first and second pair of walking legs possess bristles (setae) on the upper surfaces and the upper margins, while the propodi of the third and fourth pair of walking legs are naked. The first gonopod (appendages modified into sexual organs) of the male is three-sided in cross-section at the base, narrowing towards a sideways-curving tip. A bulging palp is present at the sides near the tip. The rim of the genital opening in females is horn-shaped and located in front of the genital covering (operculum). The operculum is rounded in shape.
Golden ghost crab