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**Mahatha (Freshwater Crab)
Scientific name: Mahatha regina
Article (short):
Part of a surprising diversity of freshwater crabs in Sri Lanka, Mahatha regina lives at the edge of seep zones and small forest seeps. These crabs are tiny engineers of the streambank - their decline signals shifting watersheds and land-use change that affect people as much as wildlife.
Quick facts
Status (approx.): Critically Endangered / micro-endemic.
Range: Select forest streams and seepages across Sri Lanka (very small ranges per species).
Habitat: Moist root-mats and forest seep margins.
Diet: Detritus, algae, small invertebrates.
Lifespan: Several years typical for freshwater species.
Reproduction: Brooded eggs; larval/juvenile stage dependent on stream stability.
Ecological role: Stream nutrient cycling, prey base for small predators.
Main threats: Watershed degradation, pollution, deforestation, invasive species.