WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Sand Bubbler Crab

Scopimera intermedia

Also known as: Brachyura Crab, Sand Bubbler, Sand Bubbler Crab, True Crab

Adult
@JarJar · TH, Thailand · March 20171 / 2
01

Overview

Found sometimes in their thousands, moving at great speed, just below the high tide mark, of wave exposed mangroves, mud, and sandy areas, of estuaries and sandy beaches. These crabs leave a beautiful pattern of tiny hard pellets all over the beach, just like little bubbles, hence the name!
They feed on tiny detritus and benthic plankton.
Depth - Shoreline

These crabs build "hummocks" (little pellets of sand) around their holes before they surface from the sand at low tide. They often emerge in their thousands falling onto their backs to remove sand and then flipping back!
They then organise themselves into armies and walk forwards (unlike other crabs that walk sideways) in a straight line to the water to feed. This is done by scooping up sand and sifting out the food and then dropping off the excess as round inflated pellets.
After feeding they then dig themselves back into the sand in a corkscrew motion to await the next tide.

Brachyura crabs are considered true crabs, they have a short abdomen, four walking legs and a pair of clawed arms at the front.
Many thousands of species live worldwide in sea water, fresh water and on land.

02

How to identify

Pattern
blotches
Head & Mouth
eye stalks

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found sometimes in their thousands, moving at great speed, just below the high tide mark, of wave exposed mangroves, mud, and sandy areas, of estuaries and sandy beaches.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumArthropoda
    3. classMalacostraca
    4. orderDecapoda
    5. familyDotillidae
    6. genusScopimera
    7. speciesScopimera intermedia Balss, 1934

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Decapoda