Where are Amboli purple forest crabs found?
Amboli purple forest crabs (Ghatiana atropurpurea) are endemic to the nothern and central Western Ghats of India and can be found in habitats like Amboli, Amba Ghat, Sharavati valley, Hathipal and Karwar. They are partially arboreal and live in rain-filled hollows of trees, like the Jamun tree, up to 2.4 m off the ground.
What is special about the Amboli purple forest crab?
Amboli purple forest crabs are known for their deep, glistening jamun purple shell. Their legs are often a darker inky colour and their claws are light pink or light indigo, with males having one claw significantly larger than the other. The species was recently discovered and was formally described by scientists only in 2016. They are known for living in small pools of water inside tree trunks as they are partially arboreal, but can also be found near similar pools on the ground level.
What do Amboli purple forest crab eat?
The diet of Amboli purple forest crabs is largely unknown. They likely eat invertebrates, tadpoles and decaying plant matter found in their microhabitat, making them opportunistic omnivores. They have been observed eating roadkill of millipedes and snails.
What threats do Amboli purple forest crabs face?
Amboli purple forest crabs face habitat loss due to deforestation. Road widening for tourism and firewood collection also threaten habitat fragmentation. Moreover, erratic monsoons threaten the delicate, rain-filled tree hollows they live in.
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