Habitat Loss

Based on locality distribution, the Singapore freshwater crab have only been found to thrive on hilly freshwater stream regions. However, the rarity of hills stream habitats capable of supporting the Singapore freshwater crab suggests that any potential modifications and development in its habitat’s vicinity would become a threat to habitat loss.

Deforestation for urbanisation, industrialisation and human habitation has led to a widespread loss of natural forest – home to many animals, including the Singapore freshwater crab. It has been found that one of the greatest causes of the decline to aquatic faunal groups in Singapore is the loss of natural forest cover (Brooks, Sodhi, & Ng,  2003). The Singapore freshwater crab belongs to a aquatic faunal group.

Currently among the three localities of the Singapore freshwater crab, only the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is gazetted as a protected area. Hence, control for urban development in the other unprotected areas is important to protect the habitat of this species.

Therefore, habitat loss is a pressing threat to extinction for the Singapore freshwater crabs, especially when this endemic species only thrives under pristine conditions.