Mud, sludge, dredge, blubber… sometimes we try as much as we can to avoid touching this suspension of clay, silt, and water, sometimes we put it on our faces and claim that it is healthy for our skin. Well, one thing is for sure, the muddy soils in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) are healthy for the mangrove ecosystem! On the Mangrove Boardwalk in one of the last mangrove ecosystems of Singapore, you can take a close look at the creatures that actually build their homes in the muddy tidal creeks. The most interesting animals hiding in the mud of the reserve are the mud lobster (Thalassina gracilis and anomala) and the tree-climbing crab / mangrove crab (Episesarma singaporense). These crustaceans help to sustain the soil of the Singaporean mangroves.

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