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Mud
lobster
Thalassina anomala
Family Thalassinidae |
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The Mud lobster plays a key role in sustaining life in a mangrove.
It is believed to eat mud. As it eats-and-digs, it recycles nutrients
from the bottom the the mud which would otherwise be out of the reach
of other plants and animals. Its digging also loosens the mud and
allows air and oxygenated water to penetrate the otherwise oxygen-poor
ground. All this digging also eventually results in a distinctive
volcano-shaped mound that can reach impressive proportions.
Mud lobster 'Condo': A Mud lobster
mound can be as tall as 2m above the ground! A mound is drier than
its surroundings so it makes a perfect home for other animals.
 Many
animals can be found in living in these 'high-rise' mounds. 'Condo'
dwellers include crabs, ants, spiders, worms, clams, snakes, and shrimps.
Some plants also appear to grow better on these mounds.
The condominium comes complete with swimming pool! Water is trapped
in the mound system forming pools which shelter aquatic animals at
low tide.
The Mud lobster itself lives deep under the mound in a U-shaped tunnel
and rarely emerges above ground. Mud lobsters are not lobsters. They
are more closely related to ghost shrimps of the genus Callianasa.
Human uses: Mud lobsters are eaten
in some places. They are considered a nuinsance by fish and prawn
farmers as their digging activities undermine the bunds (raised edges
of mud) that surround fish and prawn ponds.
Status and threats: The Mud lobster
is listed among the threatened animals in Singapore as their preferred
habitats are lost or degraded. If it disappears, so will its 'condo'
and the plants and animals living there. |
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Mud lobster mound |
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quick
facts
To about 30cm, rarely seen but their mounds are common in
the mangroves
Classification:
OrderDecapoda
Class Malacostraca
Phylum Crustacea |
