Domed elbow crabs (Cryptopodia fornicata) on the Shores of Singapore

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Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Parthenopidae

Domed elbow crab
Cryptopodia fornicata
Family Parthenopidae
updated Oct 08

Where seen? This strange crab was seen once on Changi, on a sandy area near seagrasses.

Features: Body width about 6cm. A domed body covers spindly walking legs. Eyes tiny and close together at the top of a rather triangular head. The pincers are large and angular.

Status and threats: This crab is listed as 'Endangered' on the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore.

A domed body covers spindly walking legs.
Changi, May 06

Large, angular pincers

Tiny eyes.

Underside with long, spindly walking legs.

Domed elbow crabs on Singapore shores

Beting Bronok, May 09
Underside	Carrying eggs.

Acknowledgement
With grateful thanks to Prof Peter K. L. Ng of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, the National University of Singapore for identifying this crab.

References

Debelius, Helmut, 2001. Crustacea Guide of the World: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 321 pp.
Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.

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