WETlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Vol 7 No 1
Apr 2000

St. Andrew's
Cross Spider

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Life in the Mangroves:
snippets on
plants & animals

Divine Diversity

Shorebird Population Monitoring
(1992-1998)

Inundation
in the Park

Service with a Smile: the Park's frontline staff

Field Ornithology training in Sarawak

Millenium mementos

Butterfly Trail Adoption 		 
Life in the Mangroves

text and drawings by
halilah ahmad
education officer

Mangroves
Mangroves refer to the plant community that can be found in muddy shores of sheltered coasts and river estuaries.

Tree-climbing Crab
Episesarma sp.
This burrowing crab is mainly herbivorous although it feeds on a wide variety of plant and animal matter, like most crabs. It can be seen sitting either on a tree trunk, a leaf or a structure during high tide, hence its name. For more about tree-climbing crabs.

Mudskipper
Depending on the species, mudskippers eat either animal or plant matter. The Giant Mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) and Dusky-gilled Mudskipper (Periophthalmus novemradiatus) are carnivorous, feeding on small crabs, worms, insects, snails and even smaller mudskippers. The Blue-spotted Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus boddarti) is herbivorous, feeding on microscopic organisms, blue-green algae and fungal matter on the mud surface. For more about mudskippers.

Common Long-tongued Fruit Bat
Macroglossus minimus
A common bat in mangrove areas, it feeds on nectar and pollen especially from the Sonneratia sp. Pollen is collected on the bat's head and shoulders as it reaches into the flowers with its long brush-like tongue. This pollen is then transferred to the next flower it visits. This bat also consumes nectar from other flowers like the banana and jambu.

Smooth Otter
Lutrogale perspicillata
The Smooth Otter uses its strong claws to catch fish, its most preferred food. It also feeds on crustaceans and molluscs. For more about the Smooth Otter at Sungei Buloh Nature Park.

Peanut Worm
Phascolosoma arcuatum
It feeds on microscopic organisms in the mud by extending its proboscis-like structure from its deeply buried body.		 Mangrove Ribbon Worm
Pantinonemertes sp.
It lives in Mud Lobster mounds and under the bark of rotten wood or tree trunks.

Dark-necked Tailorbird
Orthotomus atrogularis
Using spider silk and fine grass, this bird sews leaves together for its nest, hence its name. Tailorbirds feed on a wide variety of insects and worms.
Monitor Lizard
Varanus salvator
The monitor lizard is carnivorous, feeding on fish, crabs, insects, birds, amphibians, rodents and also other smaller reptiles.


Flower Crab
Portunus pelagicus
This fully aquatic crab is carnivorous, feeding on fish and other animals. 		  Mangrove Cricket
Apteronemobius asahinai
It feeds on green algae during low tide.

Marine Prawns
Penaeus sp. and Metapenaeus sp.
Mangroves are important as nurseries to complete the life cycle as the prawns lay their eggs in the mangroves. For more about prawns in Sungei Buloh Nature Park.

Sonneratia sp.
This large tree can grow up to 20 metres tall. The pretty flowers have numerous stamens and tiny petals. The oval or pearl-like fruits are edible to humans when ripe.

Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
This winter migrant feeds by probing into the mud in search of worms and other mudflats organisms.

Tamban
Sardinella sp.
This fish travels in a school and feeds on zooplankton.

Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
The Purple Heron, one of the largest birds in Singapore, is often seen standing motionless at the water edge waiting for its prey like fishes, aquatic animals, small reptiles and even insects. For more about the herons at Sungei Buloh.

Clam
Marcia marmorata
It lives buried just underneath the mud surface. Like most shellfish, it is a filterfeeder.
   
© Sungei Buloh Nature Park