On the mudflats of Changi, a cacophony of clicks and ticks ring through the night. The din is the work of snapping shrimp (Alpheus sp.), mini lobster lookalikes who patrol tiny territories with walls of silt and lawns of weed. Armed with their enlarged claw, they brave the world outside their hidey holes under the cover of darkness to flick a wrist at rivals or stun small prey.
More of a threat to soft ducks are the awesome chelipeds of the thunder crab. As we withdrew from the muck, an abandoned driftnet came into sight. Three large horseshoe crabs were entangled and as we pried the trap, four thunder crabs were revealed, frothing with crabby rage. Chopsticks and torches distracted clamping claws while nylon threads were cut and dismantled. Freed, the crab bubbled and rawred and tried to perform a war dance. Fortunately, he got mired on his back in the mud and my duck beat a pasty retreat.
Arguably the most potent pair of claws belong to the mantis shrimp that tunnelled its way in the oblivion of ferocity. This grey species appears to be a spearer and its barbed appendages are kept close, ready to strike and tear into living flesh. With fear and trembling, my duck sidestepped the busy hunter lest it deem this a night for a fowl feast.
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