A systematic study of Crabs in the Inter-tidal Zone of Hormozgan Province

Abstract

A systematic study on distribution of crabs in the inter-tidal zone of Hormozgan province, stretches between Bandar Abbas to Bandar Lengeh, was carried out during four seasons for a period of one year (Octeber 1994 to September 1995). Four regions with different bottoms were chosen for sampling. This study was conducted for the first time in Iran and revealed the richness of crab’s species and also gave us a picture of the indigenous species of this region. In survey an attempt was made to study the standing stocks of crabs in this atea. The specimens were identified using identification keys from Malaysia (Lovett, 1981), Pakistan (Bianchi, 1985), the Mediterranean (schneiscr & Bauchot. 1987), Denmark (Jessen & Sparck. 194449), and work of other authors such as: (Abele, 1982; Jones; 1986; Nandi Pramanik, 1994; Titgen, 1982). Identification was conducted through carapace surface patterns, number of surface serrations and edges of the carapace and its lateral outgrowths, shape of eye, shape of appendages espcially chclae (first pair of feet) and the last pair of appendages, presence or absence of on the appendages, shape of telson and body size of the organism. One family belonging in the sub-order Anomura and seven families belonging to the sub-order Brachyura were identified in this region. On the whole 14 specimens were identified upto the species level and 15 specimens were identified upto the genus leveL Due to the absence of identification keys one of the specimens were identified only upto the family level. Till now 15 species of crabs have been recorded in the southern shor. of Iran (Fatemi, 1992; Husseini, 1994; Saeidpour, 1994) and 15 species have been identified and recorded for the first time throughout Iran. This research showed that the species? anginas pelagic's, Macrophthalmus pectinipes, Ocypode saratan and Eriphia sebana were widely distributed in Bandar Abbas, Bostanoo, Berkeh Sephlin and Bandar Lengeh resptxtively.