Coral Crabs between Aqaba and Taiwan

Coral crabs are among the most beautiful marine crustaceans that live within coral reefs in a unique symbiotic relationship. They seek shelter among coral branches and, in return, clean and protect them from predators such as the crown-of-thorns starfish.اضافة اعلان



In the Gulf of Aqaba, a coral crab originating from the Indian Ocean was recorded by paleobotanist Abbas Haddadin. This crab is characterized by a curved shell and strong front claws, in addition to fine red spots decorating its surface — features that reflect its adaptation to the local coral reef environment.

It was named the “Coral Crab” by paleobotanist Abbas Haddadin, in reference to its close association with coral reefs.

Meanwhile, another species of coral crab was discovered in Taiwan, notable for its bright red colour and distinct white spots on its shell and limbs. It is considered one of the newly documented species in the Pacific Ocean.

These discoveries highlight the great diversity of coral crabs and their remarkable ability to spread across warm marine environments, maintaining their vital role in the sustainability and health of coral reefs.

The pictures show crabs: The small one is Aqaba crab and the bigger is Taiwan crab.