Varuna litterata (Fabricius, 1798)

Gokul, A., 2017, Taxonomy and ecology of brachyuran crabs in Sunderbans, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 117 (2), pp. 131-139 : 137-138

14. Varuna litterata (Fabricius, 1798)

1798. Cancer litterata, Fabricius, Entom. Syst. Suppl. , 342.

1900. Varuna litterata, Alcock, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal. , 69 (2): 401.

2001. Varuna litterata, Dev Roy and Bhadra, Zool. Surv. India Estuarine Ecosystem Series 4: Fauna of Godavari Estuary: 49 Materials: Total 43 examples. KN 1631, Coll. A. Gokul, 21.9.10, Bakkhali, 10 exs; KN 1637, Coll. A. Gokul,

18.9.10, Bakkhali, 04 exs; KN 1746, Coll. A. Gokul, 3.8.11, Fresergunj Harbour Is, 02 exs; KN 1750, Coll. A. Gokul,

4.8.11, Fresergunj Harbour Is, 1 ex; KN 1754, Coll. A. Gokul, 6.8.11, Fresergunj Harbour Is, 3 exs; KN 1758, Coll. A. Gokul, 4.8.11, Bakkhali, 9 exs;

KN 1759, Coll. A. Gokul, 5.8.11, Bakkhali, 14 exs and a clear demarcation is observed between the pronouncedly expanded and its free margin almost a spiniform tooth is present at the inner angle of the wrist. One or two accessory spinules are also present on marked with several tubercles in the middle position.

expanded and their posterior margin thickly fringed with hairs.

Distribution: India: Andra Pradesh, East Godavari, Krishna, Visakapatinam, Orissa, Sunderbans, Maharashtra and Trivandrum. Elsewhere: East Africa, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Singapore, Phillipines, Hong-Kong, Japan, New Guinea, Australia and New zealand.

Population Dynamics of Shore Crabs using 20m Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method (English resulted with the abundance of brachyuran crabs are were found to be abundant on the disturbed Bali Island the amount of organic waste created due to human interference. Various studies carried out on the diversity, distribution and also on the chemical composition of the brachyuran crabs ( Soundarapandian et al., 2008; Stanley and Hait , 2000; Allison et al., 2003; Mukherjee et al., 2008; Lehane , 2000).

observed to be more in the mangrove rich areas of the Sundarbans ( Figure 2 ). Studies were limited on the diversity, abundance and dynamic pattern of the brachyuran crabs in Sundarbans (Gokul, 2008). Brachyuran crabs are positively correlated with the healthiness of the habitat. Hence the habitat potential of adaptation and successful completion of life cycle determines the species richness in the respective habitat.

tool to construct the community zones of the shore crabs.

change both the sandy beach and island ecosystem from vulnerable to endangered. Rapid increase of human population and solid constructions is the growing threat to not only to Gangasagar and Bakkhali but also to the entire Sundarbans.

Figures

Figure 2. Comparative analysis of brachyuran crab abundance.