Hong Kong South Sea Crab

Nanhaipotamon hongkongense is a burrowing species that digs burrows into muddy banks of small rivers and creeks or moist soil. It is a nocturnal species that mostly stays in its burrow during the day and comes out at night or after heavy rainfalls. Offspring hatch as miniature versions of adult crabs after direct development, like with all potamid crabs.

This species is semiterrestrial and inhabits the banks of hillstreams, but can also be found in places far away from running water, such as moist areas were groundwater seeps through the soil, generally in secondary evergreen broadleaf forests. Whereas adults are rarely reported from actual aquatic habitats, juveniles and small adults may be found under stones or leaves in small ditches, creeks and ponds. N. hongkongense occurs from 17 to 514 meters above sea level. Although it has been known to tolerate certain amounts of pollution, such as plastic trash, it is not abundant in modified landscapes and in or close to densely populated human settlements, there is, however, anecdotal evidence of single crabs in schools and residential areas. First considered to be a Hong Kong endemic, it was recorded from cities bordering Hong Kong, namely Shenzhen and Dongguan.