Powder
blue-clawed swimming crab
Thalamita
crenata*
Family Portunidae
updated
Dec 2019
Where
seen? This swimming crab with powder blue pincers is sometimes
seen near seagrasses and reefs on some of our shores. Elsewhere, they
are also found in mangroves and soft-silty bottoms near rocky areas
without reefs.
Features: Body width 5-7cm. Body
somewhat rectangular, the sides of the body with 5 light blue-light
brown tipped spines of about equal size. The eyes are wide apart.
Between the eyes are 6 small rounded lobes. Walking legs greenish
or bluish with orange joints and orange or red tips. Last pair of
legs are paddle-shaped. Body and pincers sand coloured, plain light
olive or pinkish, The body edge may have a fine powder blue-brown
banded pattern. The pincers are powder blue with dark red tips.
Human uses: Harvested elsewhere by traps, trawling and
nets although it is not as commercially valuable as other swimming
crabs. |
Tanah Merah, Sep 09 |
6 small rounded lobes between the eyes.
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5 spines on the body side,
edged with small blue and dark spots.
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A pair about to mate?
Punggol, Jun 12 |
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*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of
display.
Powder
blue-clawed swimming crabs on Singapore shores |
Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Sembawang Beach, Sep 20
Photo
shared by Marcus Ng on facebook. |
Mating pair
Pulau Sekudu, Jul 20
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
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Changi, Jun 20
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.
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Tanah Merah, Jul 10
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr. |
East Coast-Marina Bay, Oct 15
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
Mating pair
Tuas, Dec 14
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook. |
Berlayar Creek, Oct 15
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr. |
Seringat-Kias, Aug 15
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
Big Sisters Island, Feb 24
Photo shared by Vincent Choo on facebook. |
St John's Island, Nov 15
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook. |
Pulau Hantu, May 22
Photo shared by Tang Yong Jen on facebook. |
Mating pair
Pulau Semakau, Dec 08
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr. |
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Links
References
- Lim, S.,
P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The
Life and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School
of Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of
Zoology, the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.
- Jones Diana
S. and Gary J. Morgan, 2002. A Field Guide to Crustaceans
of Australian Waters. Reed New Holland. 224 pp.
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