User:MBIO2602022/Haberma tingkok

The Micro Mangrove crab (Haberma Tingkok) is a small crustacean approximately 11 millimetres long and 10 millimetres across. It was first listed on the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) in April of 2017. It was discovered in the Ting Kok Mangrove forests found in the northeast of Hong Kong which are also its primary habitat.

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The Micro Mangrove crab, much like other crustaceans, has ten limbs arranged around the lower half of the carapace. These limbs are composed of eight multi-jointed legs, four on each side, used for mobility. There are also two equally sized claws, on either side of the mouth, which serve as the primary manipulation points for the crab.

Life Cycle

There is limited information available on the life cycle of the  Micro Mangrove crab. It is assumed that the life cycle resembles that of the Mangrove Tree crab, which reproduce throughout the entire year. However, the crabs can only mate immediately after the female has moulted while the protective exoskeleton is still soft. Both female Micro Mangrove crabs and the Mangrove Tree crabs carry the eggs on the underside of the abdomen until the larvae hatch. When hatching begins, the females move into the water and disperse the larvae. The larva undergo four stages during which major body parts, such as the legs and claws, develop. Each stage lasts approximately one week. The various larval forms are significantly smaller than the adult, ranging in size from 0.3 to 0.7 mm.

The adult Micro Mangrove crab undergoes several moulting stages during which it sheds its hard exoskeleton and grows while the new exoskeleton is still soft. The life expectancy of Micro Mangrove crabs is not yet known.

Colouring

The top of the carapace is a combination of dark olive green and black. The legs are a tan colour with darker mottling around the top of the legs. The underside of the carapace is a very light tan colour with a single black stripe going down the middle. This colouration may help with camouflage, protecting the crab from predators. There is also

Habitat and Diet

The Micro Mangrove Crab is unique within the genus Haberma in that unlike others it appears to be arboreal. When it was first discovered in 2017 most specimens were found in mangrove trees at a height of between 1.5 and 1.8 metres. To facilitated climbing trees the ambulatory legs are thin and very long with the third pair of legs being the longest.

There is little information available about the Micro Mangrove crabs’ diet. Due to their similarity to the Mangrove Tree crabs, it is assumed that the Micro Mangrove crabs are omnivores. The diet of the Mangrove Tree crabs consists largely of mangrove tree leaves, but they are also know to feed on invertebrates.