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seagrass lagoon

Moon crab
Matuta lunaris
Family Callapidae

The moon crab has all its walking legs modified into paddles. These are used for swimming, and as ‘spades’ to dig and bury itself in soft sediment. With eight little spades rotating rapidly, the crab disappears into the sand in an eyeblink. It leaps out from its cover to catch any passing prey with its sturdy pincers.

Moon Food: The moon crab eats worms, clams and other small animals, foraging more actively at night. These little crabs are quite common but rarely seen by daytime visitors as they are then often buried in the sediments.

Human Uses: The moon crab is eaten in some other countries.

quick facts
Body 2-5cm, common on the seagrass lagoon

Classification:
OrderDecapoda
Class Malacostraca
Subphylum Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda

Other references

Lim, S., P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The Life and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School of Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of Zoology, the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.
Tan, Leo W. H. & Ng, Peter K. L., 1988, A Guide to Seashore Life. The Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp. online version

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com