Freshwater Crabs ‹‹ Go Back
Common Name : Maroon and Gold Paddy Field Crab - Scientific Name : Oziotelphusa hippocastanum
- Other Name : Visithuru Kakkootta (S)
Hunuwilagama
10/26/2015
Hunuwilagama
10/26/2015
Eluwankulama
10/26/2015
Radagama
10/26/2015
Radagama
10/26/2015
This is an endemic species that lives in deep burrows close to paddy fields. The freshwater crabs of this genus are found only in Sri Lanka and southern India.
The conservation status of this species is regarded as Endangered (National Red List 2012).
This species has been observed in Trincomalee, Nochchiyagama, Mundel, Panama and Jaffna.
In Wilpattu I have observed these crabs during the rainy season in late October. They can be commonly seen during the first few days of the monsoon on the main road and by roads at Hunuwilagama and Radagama.