Orangutan Crab
Achaeus japonicus

 

These wonderful little crabs are one of the most aptly named crabs we get here in Lembeh.

Orangutan (Orang Utan) literally means ‘man of the forest’ in Indonesian, and these crabs really seem to look like their land-based namesakes.

Orangutan Crabs are covered in ‘hair’, which I presume is some sort of algae. They can be nearly hairless to very shaggy indeed, as these two are. We find them in many places, including Bubble Coral, sand and sponges.

Not only do they resemble Orang-utans with their hair, but they also seem to sway their front legs from side to side in a very good imitation of an ape!!

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