Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

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Diversity and Distribution of Marine Crabs of East Coast of India


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1 Social Environmental and Biological Association, Kolkata, India
     

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East coast of India has a coastline of 2656 km, continental shelf area of 1, 22,000 sq km and coastal area of 64, 956 million ha and comprises of 4 maritime States and one Union Territory (UT), namely, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (UT). In this presentation, an attempt has been made to focus on the diversity of brachyuran crabs from these maritime states of east coast. The report is based on author’s observation as well as from literature survey. A total of 482 species of brachyuran crabs belonging to 211 genera under 45 families has been recorded from different States of east coast of India. Maximum diversity has been observed in Tamil Nadu (382 species) followed by Odisha (149 species), West Bengal (137 species) and Andhra Pradesh (128 species). Least number of species is recorded in Puducherry (58 species). One species, Ilyoplax gangeticus has been recorded for the first time from Odisha. State-wise distribution of these species is discussed in this communication. A total of 91 crab species described/reported from this coast is not recorded during the last hundred years. This is the first consolidated report on the crab diversity of maritime States of east coast of India.

Keywords

Marine Crab, Diversity, Distribution, East Coast.
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  • Diversity and Distribution of Marine Crabs of East Coast of India

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Authors

M. K. Dev Roy
Social Environmental and Biological Association, Kolkata, India

Abstract


East coast of India has a coastline of 2656 km, continental shelf area of 1, 22,000 sq km and coastal area of 64, 956 million ha and comprises of 4 maritime States and one Union Territory (UT), namely, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (UT). In this presentation, an attempt has been made to focus on the diversity of brachyuran crabs from these maritime states of east coast. The report is based on author’s observation as well as from literature survey. A total of 482 species of brachyuran crabs belonging to 211 genera under 45 families has been recorded from different States of east coast of India. Maximum diversity has been observed in Tamil Nadu (382 species) followed by Odisha (149 species), West Bengal (137 species) and Andhra Pradesh (128 species). Least number of species is recorded in Puducherry (58 species). One species, Ilyoplax gangeticus has been recorded for the first time from Odisha. State-wise distribution of these species is discussed in this communication. A total of 91 crab species described/reported from this coast is not recorded during the last hundred years. This is the first consolidated report on the crab diversity of maritime States of east coast of India.

Keywords


Marine Crab, Diversity, Distribution, East Coast.

References