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Mud lobsters (Thalassina spp.) are locally referred to as ‘udang ketak’ or ‘ketam busut’ are considered as an important organism in the mangrove ecosystem for its burrowing activities and the role of its mounds or burrows as home to other animals. In Malaysia and Thailand, mud lobsters are eaten by locals as treatment for asthma. It is traditionally believed that they are effective in reducing the number of asthma attacks and severity of asthma symptoms. However, the therapeutic potential of mud lobster remains unclear and has not been fully elucidated or reported in scientific study. Present study builds on that knowledge to determine the species of mud lobster and test the potential of mud lobster as natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The objectives of this study are to identify species of mud lobster through analysis of morphological traits and molecular gene markers (PEPCK and CO1), to analyse sexual dimorphism and length-weight relationship of mud lobster and to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of mud lobster extracts and determine the bioactive compounds involved. All mud lobster samples (n=70) collected from four distinct regions in Sarawak (Kuala Tatau, Kuala Balingian, Sarikei and Lingga) were identified as Thalassina anomala through morphological characteristics and molecular gene markers (PEPCK and CO1). Maximum likelihood tree analysis of CO1 gene sequences showed that T. anomala from all populations were closely related with each other with 100% bootstrap supporting evidence. For morphometric variations between sex, specimens with damaged or missing cheliped were not included in analysis. Sexual dimorphism of T. anomala can be observed where males are significantly longer for carapace and left chelae propodus compared to females (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the abdominal width was significantly larger in females. The length-weight relationship of T. anomala showed that males had isometric growth rate for carapace length-weight (CL

Mud lobsters (Thalassina spp.) are nocturnal organisms, belong to Order Decapoda which are lesser known and least studied although their presence were widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific Region. Mud lobster is considered as an important organism in the mangrove ecosystem for its burrowing activities and the role of its mounds or burrows as home to other animals. All mud lobster samples collected from four distinct regions in Sarawak (Kuala Tatau, Kuala Balingian, Sarikei and Lingga) were identified as Thalassina anomala based on the morphological characteristics. Morphometric variations between sexes of T. anomala were examined. Sexual dimorphism can be observed where males had significantly longer carapace length, left chelae propodus length and larger left chelae propodus width compared to females (p<0.05). Meanwhile, sexual dimorphism can also be seen in the abdominal width, in which it was significantly larger in females, for both absolute values (p<0.01) and also the relative values (p<0.001). The length-weight relationship of T. anomala were analysed between sexes by regression analysis. Results showed that males had isometric growth rate for carapace length-weight (CL/W), total length-weight (TL/W) and abdominal length-weight (ABL/W) relationships. However, females had negative allometric growth in CL/W and ABL/W relationship and isometric growth in TL/W relationship. Data from this study is able to provide baseline information which are useful for future reference on mud lobster resource management in Sarawak, Malaysia.