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**Durrell’s Freshwater Crab
Scientific name: Ceylonthelphusa durrelli
Article (short):
Tiny, armored, and perfectly adapted to cool mountain streams, Durrell’s freshwater crab lives in pockets of montane forest where every clean spring matters. These crabs can vanish silently when streams are diverted or polluted - they’re small guardians of stream health and excellent focal species for local conservation education.
Quick facts
Status (approx.): Critically endangered / range-restricted.
Range: Central-province montane streams (Sri Lanka).
Habitat: Shallow, cool, forested stream margins and rocky riffles.
Diet: Omnivorous - detritus, small invertebrates, algae.
Lifespan: Several years typical for freshwater crabs.
Reproduction: Eggs brooded under abdomen; larval/juvenile development tied to stream conditions.
Ecological role: Nutrient recycling, detritus processing, prey for birds/fish.
Main threats: Water pollution, stream diversion, habitat fragmentation, sedimentation.