Sand hoppers, tiny crustaceans found on sandy beaches around the world, might move more sand than any other animal on Earth, according to a new study. These nocturnal creatures, which are about an inch long, dig burrows in the sand each night, creating small mounds of fluffed-up sand by morning. Researchers measured the amount of sand moved by these creatures and found that each hopper digs up more than 10 times its own body weight for every burrow. For every three feet (one meter) of coastline, about 21,450 sand hoppers collectively move about 110 pounds (50 kilograms) of sand every night. In a 15.5-mile (25-kilometer) stretch of beach near Isla Vista, California, sand hoppers move around 310 tons of dry sand per day—comparable to the sediment-shifting power of some nearby rivers. This finding highlights the significant impact these small animals have on shaping beach landscapes. Their burrowing activities bring nutrients and oxygen into the sand, which supports other forms of beach life. The mounds they create may also contribute to dune formation by allowing wind to move loose sand more easily. Additionally, sand hoppers serve as an important food source for shorebirds. The study compared sand hoppers to a previously studied South African sand prawn, which moves about 9 pounds of sand per square foot of beach per day (12 kilograms per square meter per day). However, the researchers believe that sand hoppers may surpass the prawns in total sand movement when considering all the sand they move, not just what is visible in mounds. This suggests that sand hoppers might have a greater ecological impact than previously thought. The findings underscore the importance of considering the role of animals in shaping landscapes, alongside physical processes like wind and waves. Practices such as beach grooming, which involve raking the sand to remove seaweed, can disrupt these natural processes and potentially harm the beach ecosystem. Scientists hope that future beach management strategies will take into account the significant contributions of animals like sand hoppers to the coastal environment.