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| crabs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Portunidae |
| Blue
swimming crab Thalamita sp.* Family Portunidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This blue swimming crab is commonly seen on many of our shores, especially near coral rubble and reefs. It is particularly active at night. Features: Body width 5-7cm. Body rectangular, eyes wide apart. With 5 spines on the sides. Body and pincers plain blue without any markings. The 'fingers' are often black with a white tip, some have white patch at the base of the 'fingers', some have bright orange patches on the inner 'elbow'. In some, the body appears to have rows of tiny hairs that trap sediments and sand. This is probably why the crab often appears 'sandy'. |
 Labrador, Oct 04 |
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Blue swimming crabs on Singapore shores
 Mating pair. The male is on top, only the walking legs of the female can be seen. Pulau Sekudu, Jul 06 |
 Closer look at the egg mass. |
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 Changi, Jul 07 |
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 Tuas, Apr 08 |
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 Bright orange patch on inner 'elbow'. |
more photos of blue swimming crabs on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
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