Freshwater Crabs ‹‹ Go Back

Common Name : Ceylon Paddy Field Crab     -       Scientific Name : Oziotelphusa ceylonensis*       -       Other Name : Lanka Kakkootta
Radagama
10/26/2015
Radagama
10/26/2015

This is an endemic species found in the north - western and central parts of the country.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Near Threatened (National Red List 2012).

This species is found in paddy fields and in close proximity to fresh water bodies and stream in locations such as Puttalam, Mundel and Nochchiyagama in the northwestern part of the island and around Kandy and Peradeniya in the central parts of the island.

This species is considered to be sympatric (the process of new species evolving from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region) with the Maroon & Gold Fresh Water Crab Oziotelphusa hippocastanum.

In Wilpattu I have observed this species at Radagama and Hunuwilagama.