Sunday, August 10, 2008

forest tree crab

took this image of a forest tree crab( exact species unknown to me) in the chorla ghats, though i have seen this species in almost all protected areas of Goa. it usually is seen in the monsoons and takes residence in tree hollows, i have observed individuals as high as 15 feet in the tree canopy too! locals believe that this crab can cause food poisoning when consumed and well, i have not tried it out to say the least! also seen larger individuals feed on slugs and frogs of Philatus species.(tree frogs).
Sometimes these crabss are seen foraging in the leaf litter on the forest floor and this specimen was photographed at about 12.50 in the afternoon.

1 comment:

nk said...

This crab seems to be Ghatiana Atropurpurea.
Someone claims to have 'discovered' it in 2014.
https://thewire.in/environment/meet-the-western-ghats-wonderful-new-freshwater-crabs