On the diversity of some Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda) from by-catch at the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present study provides taxonomical information on a collection of some marine brachyuran crabs from the Gulf of Mannar of Tamil Nadu. The specimens were collected from fisheries bycatch at Mandapam fishing harbor located in the Gulf of Mannar during July 2019 to March 2020. A total of 18 species (15 genera, 8 families) of brachyuran crabs were identified. Maximum species were recorded from the family Leucosiidae (8 species), followed by Parthenopidae (4 species). Families like Epialtidae, Scalopidiidae, Corystidae, Euryplacidae, Iphiculidae, and Xanthidae were represented by single species each. Out of these 18 species, Lyphira heterograna is reported first time from the East coast of India.