ID this fish

[brandonng]

what is it???

[dBs™]

That's a horse shoe crab. They are quite common in our shores.

Horseshoe crab uses its tail to "right" itself if it is accidentally overturned. If you see a struggling horseshoe crab, do help it.
This harmless crab will not hurt you.

[Darth Salacious]

Hi Brandon, welcome to the forum!

Did you catch those crabs?

[brandonng]

ya..i caught it...

[Peace]

There are two types of horseshoe crabs in Singapore - the Mangrove Horseshoe crab and the Coastal Horseshoe crab; the latter being the larger species. Yours should be the Coastal type. Although it has been said that the tail is harmless, I've met a mud crab hunter who said he has been pierced by one before, right through his boots.

[Darth Salacious]

Oh, using the conventional crab net?

[Peace]

Nah, he uses a wire hook to yank the mud crabs out of their burrows. I think the horseshoe crab may have been embedded under soft mud when he stepped on it.

[Darth Salacious]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that these crabs are a protected species in Singapore due to their waning population?

[Peace]

I don't think they're protected species, but I could be wrong. Both mud crabs and horseshoe crabs can still be commonly found. However, catching them in protected places such as nature reserve is another matter.

[Darth Salacious]

Oh, I see.
Thanks for clearing the air about this, boss.