Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa

W.Jr. · 14th February 2006

Hi! Please help me identify this crab. Thanks!

slaam · 14th February 2006

what is the relative size of this crab?

Width 6-8cm?

W.Jr. · 14th February 2006

The body size was about 4.5 to 5.5cm

husky · 14th February 2006

This is a Ghost crab.

More info can be found here

I've also seen them before on Changi:

slaam · 14th February 2006

Update: Confirmed to be a Ghost crab or specifically Horn-eyed Ghost crab
Quote from Ria "It's quite common and can be seen, sometimes in large numbers on almost all our shores. Even busy and over trampled Changi beach! But only at night."

Ref:
A Guide to Seashore Life by Dr Leo W H Tan and Peter K L Ng
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/pub/seashore/text/191.htm

Horn-eyed ghost crabs (Ocypode ceratophthalma) on the Shores of Singapore
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildsho...tophthalma.htm

ooh nice pic husky...
Cannot be sure... but I read before in scientific journals or some where that there's a reason for them to have really long eye stalks. cos they are so 'short' they have difficulty seeing over boulders and stuff so longer eye stalks allow them to have a wider view of the beach. Might be important esp for crabs that hunt preys heheh

raptor84 · 14th February 2006

The long ye stalks make it look kinda freaky :O

W.Jr. · 15th February 2006

Thanks to all for the identification! I can finally tell my son the actual name of the crab! [Instead of just "crab'].

Yes. it was kind of freaky when it's eye went up. The other thing about this crab we observed was that it can move both forward and sideways....

We actually wondered if we could have had it with chilli or pepper that night.... hehehe

slaam · 15th February 2006

HAHAHA that's very singaporean...

i think all crabs can move forwards its jus slower...
this one is prob a predator hence more mobile...

btw 5cm crab how to cook? haha

14th February 2006	#1
W.Jr. New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 7	Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa Hi! Please help me identify this crab. Thanks! Last edited by W.Jr.; 14th February 2006 at 03:06 PM.

14th February 2006	#2
slaam Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Posts: 1,502	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa what is the relative size of this crab? Width 6-8cm? __________________ my photo project http://naturespies.blogspot.com http://www.dreamstime.com/kevinlam_info Last edited by slaam; 14th February 2006 at 02:56 PM.

14th February 2006	#3
W.Jr. New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 7	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa The body size was about 4.5 to 5.5cm Last edited by W.Jr.; 14th February 2006 at 03:06 PM.

14th February 2006	#4
husky Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Singapore/London Posts: 99	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa This is a Ghost crab. More info can be found here I've also seen them before on Changi: __________________ D300, 17-55 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 VR, 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 VR, Tamron 90 macro \| talfryn.com Last edited by husky; 14th February 2006 at 05:45 PM.

14th February 2006	#5
slaam Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Posts: 1,502	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa Update: Confirmed to be a Ghost crab or specifically Horn-eyed Ghost crab Quote from Ria "It's quite common and can be seen, sometimes in large numbers on almost all our shores. Even busy and over trampled Changi beach! But only at night." Ref: A Guide to Seashore Life by Dr Leo W H Tan and Peter K L Ng http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/pub/seashore/text/191.htm Horn-eyed ghost crabs (Ocypode ceratophthalma) on the Shores of Singapore http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildsho...tophthalma.htm ooh nice pic husky... Cannot be sure... but I read before in scientific journals or some where that there's a reason for them to have really long eye stalks. cos they are so 'short' they have difficulty seeing over boulders and stuff so longer eye stalks allow them to have a wider view of the beach. Might be important esp for crabs that hunt preys heheh Last edited by slaam; 14th February 2006 at 09:40 PM.

14th February 2006	#6
raptor84 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 4,280	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa The long ye stalks make it look kinda freaky :O __________________ Pet Portrait Portfolio Stock Photos for sale

15th February 2006	#7
W.Jr. New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 7	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa Thanks to all for the identification! I can finally tell my son the actual name of the crab! [Instead of just "crab']. Yes. it was kind of freaky when it's eye went up. The other thing about this crab we observed was that it can move both forward and sideways.... We actually wondered if we could have had it with chilli or pepper that night.... hehehe

15th February 2006	#8
slaam Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Posts: 1,502	Re: Crab at Siloso Beach, Sentosa HAHAHA that's very singaporean... i think all crabs can move forwards its jus slower... this one is prob a predator hence more mobile... btw 5cm crab how to cook? haha __________________ my photo project http://naturespies.blogspot.com http://www.dreamstime.com/kevinlam_info