Dotilla myctiroides | |
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Dotilla myctiroides from Devbagh, Karwar, India | |
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Species: | myctiroides
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Binomial name | |
Dotilla myctiroides (H. Milne-Edwards, 1852)[1]
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Dotilla myctiroides is a species of sand bubbler crab found on tropical shores and mud-flats of India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.[2] They breed throughout the year but activity peaks during the monsoons. This species builds a burrow, called an "igloo", in unstable sand as well as in well-drained and firm sand. In building the igloo, the crab excavates sand and forms it into spherical pellets. These pellets are used to form a circular wall and roof in the burrow. The resulting structure holds a small amount of air in addition to the crab itself.[3]