A survey carried out by the Taiwan Ecological Society at the behest of Kenting National Park Headquarters recorded 30 species of land crab in six families, including six species in the Gecarcinidae family, three in the Grapsidae family, 11 in the Sesarmidae family,three in the Ocypodidae family, three in the Potamidae family and four in the Coenobitidae family.

The park has a high level of land crab diversity and some populations of crab species are perhaps the largest in the world. The highest land crab diversity is found in the coastal forest of Xiangjiao Bay. Tree crabs (樹蟹) and Scandarma lintou(林投蟹) two species only found in Taiwan, live there, the populations being the largest in Taiwan. Gangkou River mouth has the second highest crab diversity and large populations. It is an important habitat for Sesarmops intermedium (中型仿相手蟹),Ocypode sinensis (中華沙蟹), Epigrapsus politus (小隱蟹), Epigrapsus notatus (橙螯隱蟹) land crabs and the highest populations of these species have been recorded there. Houwan, to the south of the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, is the most important land crab habitat on the west coast of the park and the home of the largest population of fierce Cardisoma guanhumi (兇狠圓軸蟹). It has large numbers of Metasesarma aubryi (奧氏後相手蟹), Sesarmops intermedium (中型仿相手蟹),and Geothelphusa albogilva (黃灰澤蟹). Metasesarma aubryi is a small crab that is found in the coastal forest all over Kenting National Park. This population is the largest known in the whole world. The largest population of Sesarmops intermedium is found near the mouth of the Gangkou River. Geothelphusa albogilva, a land crab endemic to Taiwan, is often seen in the park and in Sheding Park.

Crab populations are falling in Taiwan, the reasons probably being habitat destruction, human interference and changes in environment and climate. The national park is taking active measures to ensure that a rich variety of land crabs always live on the Hengchun Peninsula.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Kenting National Park Headquarters