Colourful fiddler crabs amaze tourists at Trang mangrove site

Chattarin SiradakulPublished: January 8, 2026, 5:01 PM

1,559 1 minute read

Colourful fiddler crabs amaze tourists at Trang mangrove site | Thaiger — Photo via Dailynews

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Tourists at a mangrove eco-tourism site in Trang observed large swarms of colourful fiddler crabs emerging from mudflats, particularly at Ban Rai Yong Star in Palian district.
Visitors could see male crabs with oversized claws and females with equal-sized claws, with various colourations indicating maturity and attractiveness to mates.
Fiddler crabs serve as natural tide predictors, burrowing before high tide, and are indicators of environmental health in mangrove ecosystems.
The abundance of fiddler crabs at the site is seen as a positive sign for the ecosystem, supporting local fish and shellfish populations, according to the tourism enterprise manager.

Tourists visiting a mangrove eco-tourism site in Trang yesterday, January 7, were treated to a vivid natural sight, as swarms of colourful fiddler crabs emerged from the mudflats in large numbers.

The crabs were spotted at Ban Rai Yong Star in Palian district, where visitors watched them scuttle through the mudflats beside the mangroves, feeding and interacting along the edge of the mangroves.

By sitting still for a minute or two, visitors could watch the crabs cautiously emerge from their burrows to feed on decaying plant matter and tiny organisms in the silt. Males were easy to identify by their single oversized claw, while females have two claws of equal size.

Some crabs showed a single colour, while others displayed two or three hues. The most common had yellow claws with blue or black-and-white bodies, with colours becoming more vivid as they mature to help attract mates. Visitors also spotted crabs in purple, green, bright blue, orange, and even pink.

Close-up of a colourful fiddler crab with a large yellow claw on a mangrove mudflat in Trang, Thailand. — Photo via Dailynews

Known locally as natural tide predictors, fiddler crabs instinctively burrow and seal their holes before high tide to avoid flooding. As a result, they are rarely seen during peak tides unless they live in areas elevated above sea level.

While not typically harvested for consumption due to their small size, some people do collect them for display in aquariums. The species thrives in mangrove and coastal swamp ecosystems, making it a strong indicator of environmental health.

Aphinan Phetpheng, manager of the Ban Rai Yong Star tourism enterprise, said the crabs are a local highlight and can be seen year-round. He noted that the site currently hosts an unusually large number of the creatures, estimating at least seven distinct colours.

Aphinan added that the abundance of fiddler crabs is a positive sign for the mangrove ecosystem, as they play a crucial role in the food chain by supporting populations of fish, shrimp, and shellfish, reported Dailynews.

In similar news, tourists flocked to Hup Pa Tat in Uthai Thani to witness the annual appearance of one of the world’s top three newly discovered species, the rare pink dragon millipede.

Chattarin Siradakul

With a degree in language and culture, focusing on media studies, from Chulalongkorn University, Chattarin has both an international and a digital mindset. During his studies, he spent 1 year studying Liberal Arts in Japan and 2 months doing internship at the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara, both of which helped him develop a deep understanding of the relationship between society and media. Outside of work, he enjoys watching films and playing games, as well as creating YouTube videos.