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| crabs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Xanthidae |
| Mosaic
reef crab Lophozozymus pictor Family Xanthidae updated Dec 12 Where seen? This red decorative crab is sometimes seen on our some of our shores among coral rubble or near living reefs. At some times, several can be seen on one trip, and then none for several months. Features: Body width 8-10cm. Body flat and somewhat fan-shaped. It is usually red to orange with strikingly patterns iof large white spots on its body. It has hairy legs with pointed tips and the claws are tipped in black. It is the most poisonous crab of Singapore! There are several documented deaths caused by eating this crab. Cooking does not destroy the toxins. The crab is believed to obtain the toxins from the food it eats, including a poisonous sea cucumber. Status and threats: This crab is listed as 'Endangered' on the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Sentosa, Oct 04 |
 Pulau Semakau, Nov 09 |
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 Eating a Long-spined black sea urchin. Sisters Island, May 09 Photo shared by Janette Goh on her blog. |
 Sentosa, Jun 07 |
Mosaic reef crabs on Singapore shores
| Photos for free download from wildsingapore flickr |
Links
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Venom & Toxin Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, National
University of Singapore. 156 pp.|
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