Semaphore Crabs (Heloecius cordiformis)

I was at tyhe Narawntapu National Park today where, among other things, I got this shot of a Semaphore Crab, Heloecius cordiformis. It may not be the best photo I've taken but I can assure you it took a lot of patience to get it :-) I was lying face down with just my head over the creek embankment. They are very nervous things and the slightest movement sends them into their burrows. I waited about 5 minutes for them to come out but an itchy nose caused me to flinch and they were off into their burrows again. Another 5 or 6 minutes later I tried for a shot an the flash spooked them and sent them back down. After about twenty minutes I finally got this shot. It would have to do for now as people were waiting on me.

_{( All photos, videos, and text on this blog are by @mostly.nature )}

I did better last year at the same site where I used my video camera. The zoom allowed me to stand further back and not make them so nervous. Here's the video:

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