Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 5178602
Mangrove Tree Crab
Aratus pisoniiAlso known as Mangrove Crab, Tree Crab
Mangrove tree crabs spend most of their lives scaled up in the canopy of red, black, and white mangroves, descending to the water primarily to spawn or evade predators. Their flattened, dark brown bodies and sharp leg tips enable them to scuttle across vertical bark and thin branches with remarkable speed. While their daily diet consists largely of nutrient-poor mangrove foliage, they readily scavenge insects, organic detritus, and smaller invertebrates when available.
ArborealCrustaceanMangrove
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mangrove leaves
- Insects
- Detritus
Predators
- Herons
- Raccoons
- Large fish
ThreatsMangrove habitat destruction, coastal development, and water pollution
HabitatsMangrove forests and coastal estuarine wetlands
Life span2 to 4 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySesarmidae
- SpeciesAratus pisonii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for them clinging vertically to red mangrove roots and lower branches in shaded areas.
- Approach: Move slowly, as sudden shadows or overhead movements cause them to scuttle quickly to the far side of trunks.
Host Plant (c) James St. John, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Estuarine Neighbor Ianaré Sévi / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Charles J. Sharp , some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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