Checklist of brachyuran mangrove crabs of Kerala, India

Abstract

Checklist of brachyuran mangrove crabs from Kerala, western coast of India is presented in this paper with re-validation of nomenclature since many of the crab species have been renamed so far, and no reports have been published from mangroves of Kerala. A total of 18 true mangrove crabs were identified from different mangroves associated with estuaries along the western coastline of Kerala State, of which four crab genera were renamed and revalidated and all species were photo-documented during the present study. The paper enlists the taxonomic account of the true mangrove crabs known so far from Kerala mangrove ecosystems.