Crustacean
White-spotted hermit crabs
While beachcombing in the lagoons of Zanzibar, we found a White-spotted hermit crab (Dardanus megistos) housing itself in a Fusinus sp. shell. These crabs are exceptionally beautiful, and I therefore want to present them in this article. Description of White-spotted…
Catching mud crabs at Koh Lanta
Mud crabs are common in mangrove areas in Thailand. They are primarily caught in crab pots for commercial purposes. However, my Urak Lawoi friends and I specialized in digging up and catching these crabs by hand. Who are Urak Lawoi…
Catching Ghost crabs by digging
Ghost crabs (genus Ocypode) comprise 22 different species, and they are commonly also called `Sand crabs.` The scientific name Ocypode has Greek origin and means swift-footed. Ghost crabs are semi-terrestrial crabs that dig deep burrows in intertidal zones of sand. They…
Three-spot swimming crabs on surf-beaten sandy beaches
Description of the crab species Three-spot swimming crabs (Ovalipes trimaculatus) have a rounded triangular carapace with five legs on either side. The tips of the back pair of legs are flattened into paddles for better maneuvering in the water. Adorned…
Crab snares on tropical beaches of Southeast Asia
An advanced, industrially manufactured crab snare usually consists of a bait cage with about six wire snares around it. This setup is used on a fishing line and rod, or is just hung down from a boat to the sea…
The Ultimate Survival Snack: Foraging and Preparing Ricefield Shrimp
Freshwater prawns, specifically Macrobrachium lanchesteri—locally known as Goong foi in Thailand—are one of the most efficient “survival foods” you can find in the wild. While they might be small, these translucent crustaceans are abundant in nearly every permanent water body…