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| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Sesarmidae |
| Mangrove
tree-dwelling crab Selatium brocki Family Sesarmidae updated Oct 08 Where seen? This little green-eyed crab is commonly seen in our mangrove trees. Small ones are also seen on jetty pilings and other hard surfaces encrusted with barnacles and other animals. Its scientific name is also spelt Selatium brocki. Features: Body width 2-2.5cm. It has a squarish body and flat legs with pointed tips. There are dark bars on the body and sometimes the legs too. The eyes are spaced apart and has a greenish tinge. During the day, it hides in crevices or under loose bark of mangrove trees. It comes out to forage at night. The crab is able to stay out of the water for some time because it recirculates and oxygenates the water in its gills by pumping this over hairs on its face. This crab can make a sound (stridulate) by rubbing the bumps on the pincers against the uneven face. What does it eat? It eats mainly algae that grows on hard surfaces, scraping this off with its flattened pincers. It also nibbles on young mangrove leaves and small animals found there, such as ants and bivalves. |
 Pointed legs to climb and cling. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 03  Eyes have a greenish tinge. |
 This mama crab was carrying lots of eggs! Kranji, Jun 06 |
 Closer look at the eggs. |
 Pincers used to scrape off algae. |
Mangrove tree-dwelling crabs on Singapore shores
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Nov 03 |
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more photos of mangrove tree-dwelling crabs on Singapore shores
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