Back to Show
Deep Look
Beware of Flesh-Eating Sand Piranhas at the Beach
Season 11
Episode 17
Known as sand piranhas, Excirolana chiltoni are tiny crustaceans that nibble at your feet – and draw blood – if you hang out on the wet sand at the beach. They live on the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada, and the shorelines of Japan. Here's how to keep them from ruining your vacay!
Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By

4:15
Each seed is home to a head-banging moth larva, trying to survive the Sonoran Desert sun.

5:01
Female aphids are matriarchs of a successful family operation — taking over your garden.

4:36
Firebrats and silverfish are pretty darn similar to some of the earliest insects on Earth.

4:11
After sunset, tiny crustaceans called beach hoppers emerge from sandy underground burrows.

4:12
Two tiny mites duke it out on strawberry plants throughout California.

4:00
California oak moth caterpillars eat all the leaves on an oak. Will the tree survive?

4:33
Don't despair – there *is* a trick to smacking these infuriating insects.

4:14
These sea slugs may look lazy, but eelgrass sea hares are actually environmental heroes.

4:33
They may look cute and colorful, but starfish are actually voracious predators.

5:29
Fallcon stars Annie and Grinnell face the tough demands of raising a family.

4:43
Orb weaver spiders build webs not only to catch insects, but to extend their senses.

3:57
Cape sundews are carnivorous plants that grow in bogs.