forceps crab (epixanthus dentatus)

CONTENTS

Fauna index

Crustacea

Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi (editors)

Forceps crab
Epixanthus dentatus
Family Eriphiidae

Size: up to 8 cm. Found in the Indo-West Pacific, locally common.

The orange spots on the shell easily identify this common crab. It normally hides under driftwood.

Carapace washed to
reveal orange spots

Its stout right claw has a special tooth which it uses to open gastropods (not unlike a can-opener) whilst the fingers of its left claw are like a pair of forceps which it uses to extract the flesh from the shell.

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What is mangrove?
Introduction

The Ecosystem
Abiotic
Biotic

Value
Intro
Products
Indirect uses
Potential uses

About Mangroves
in Singapore
History
Mangroves to visit
Conservation

From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors)
Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity
Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng,
B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan
BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum
© 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre