Creatures found in the mangroves

The mangroves do not only consists of trees, it is home to many different animals which include the monitor lizard, mud skipper and many others.
Before we stepped into the mangroves, we heard a rather chirping sound that seemed to come from everywhere. Curious, I asked our guide where was the noise coming from and was told that the noise was made from the cicadas. It seems that cicadas make the chirping noise by contracting and relaxing the internal timbal muscles and only produced the chirps when it is sunny.
As our tour guide led us further into the mangrove, we came across a mound with many holes. Before we could shoot any questions, our guide explained that the mounds were made by the mud lobsters but are inhabited by the tree climbing crabs. By the way do you know that the tree climbing crabs are also known as vinegar crabs because the crabs are served with vinegar in Taiwanese dishes?
Further down, we saw a mud skipper hiding in one of the holes. It was brilliantly camouflaged and if not for one of our classmates we might have missed it. Mud skippers are amphibians and spend most of their life out of water.By using their highly modified pectoral (swimming) fins much like legs and by flipping their bodies, they can "skip" across the mud (and water), which is a great way to avoid predators.Mud skippers need to be able to poke their heads above the water's surface and gulp air. So if you hold their head in the water for to long they will drown.
Like I said earlier, the mangrove is teeming with life and is a must see.