Examination of crab zonation patterns from mangrove forests in Australia,
Indonesia and Japan have shown that Scylla spp. dominate the zone below mean low
water of spring tides (LWS) in all three locations, with their mode of life of the genus
being classified as “decapods always living in a burrow”.
Apart from spawning migrations, mud crabs appear to move little within their
habitat, most remaining on site in distinct populations. However, longer-term tagging
has shown that crabs can move several kilometres from their home range over time.
Nightly movements of S. serrata fitted with transmitters averaged 461 m, with average
speeds in the range of 10–19 m/h.