Fauna ; inhabitants found in the Mangroves

Crabs

Tree Climbing Crabs burrow at tree bases or mud lobster mounds but can be easily seen climbing mangrove trees as they evade the high tide. They feed on the leaves of the mangrove trees and also mangrove seedligs. They sometimes scavenge for meat.

Purple Climber Crabs (Metopograpsus spp.) have brightly coloured pincers. Commonly found near the roots of mangrove trees or at wooden structures such as sluice gates where they feed by scrapping off algae using the tips of their pincers.



Male Fiddler Crabs (Uca spp.) have one enlarged claw and the other, small with spoon-tipped pincers. The large claw is used to attract females as well as fend off rival males. The small claw is used for feeding. They emerge to feed and display during low tide but maintain a bubble of air in their sealed burrows at high tide.



Fishes

Archerfishes (Toxotes jaculatrix) feed on insects near the water surface. They have elongated mouths from which water can be forcefully pumped out, knocking the insects. They are not born with perfect marksmanship but instead learn to be accurate over time.

Halfbeaks (Zenarchopterus spp.) are often seen swimming near the surface to look for and insect prey. They have peculiar mouth structures with very short upper jaw and an elongated lower jaw, hence the common name.


Spot-tail Needlefish (Strongylura strongylura) is found near the surface too. It is a predator of small, surface-dwelling fishes and has a pair of long jaws with sharp teeth.



Reptiles

The Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus Salvator) is one of the largest lizards in the world. They feed on anything they can catch, ranging from insects and crabs to dead animals. They "smell" the air with their blue forked tongue. Then tongue is periodically stuck out and used to track down carrion and small animals.
A much smaller lizard, the Mangrove Skink (Emoia atrocaostata) can sometimes be seen sunning on tree trucks. It feeds on insects and small crabs.

The mildly venemous Dog-faced Water Snake (Cerberus rhynchops) is common in the mangroves. Unlike most snakes, this species bears its young alive. It's often seen on the hunt for fishes during low tide.


Mangrove Pit-vipers (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus) possess heat-sensing pit organs located between the nostrils and eyes. Although highly venemous, they are rare and also extremely shy. They are nocturnal hunters, preying on crabs and birds.


Estaurine Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) are locally rare and very shy. They prefer to lie submerged in water. They hunt primarily for fishes but sometimes birds and moniter lizards too.

Mudskippers

Mudskippers are peculiar fishes able to live for extended periods out of water by holding water in their mouths for gaseous exchange. Like amphibians, they are also able to breathe through moist skin. Their pectoral fins are modified to enable the fish to crawl over soft mud.

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is home to the largest mudskipper in the world, the Giant Mudskippers (Periophtalamodon schlosseri). This species is a fearsome predator with two rows of teeth in the upper jaw and can grow up to 27 cm! They feed on small fishes and crabs.


The Walailak's Mudskipper (Periophthalmus walailakae) is another common mudskipper, often confused with the Giant mudskippers. Unlike their close relative, these fishes lack the black stripe along the side of their bodies.

Mammals

Plantain Squirrel (Calosciurus natatus) is commonly seen in the back mangroves, feeding on fruits and sometimes on insects.

Otters are rarely seen in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. They are excellent swimmers and divers, sometimes can be seen pursuing fishes during low tide.
Crab-eating Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are common in the mangrove and terrestrial forests. When inhabiting the mangroves, they feed on crabs, shrimps and even the odd octopus!

Snails

Rondong (Telescopium telescopium) is one of the most common snails on the mudflats. They feed on organic matter and algae on the mud surface.


Common Nerites (Nerita lineata) feed on the algae during low tide by scraping the algae off the surface. They stay above water during high tide and they are usually more active at night. Their tough shell makes them formidable prey items.

Though Red Berry Snails (Sphaerassiminea minata) are small in size, they are easy to spot of then mudflats due to their bright red shells. Using lungs instead of gills to breathe, they are well adapted for life out of water. These snails graze on alfae and detritus.