First discovery of porcellanid crab, Porcellanella picta (Crustacea: Decapoda: Porcellanidae), from south-east coast of India

Abstract

Studies of the distribution of any marine organism are very important in determining the range of its expansion in the oceans and to determine the factors influencing this expansion. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of the crab Porcellanella picta (Crustacea, Anomura, Porcellanidae) in the Point Calimere coastal region of southeastern India. All the specimens found were sexually mature. This crab occurs only rarely on the Indian coast and this observation expands its known range, recording a second distributional area for the species and significantly extending its range on the southeast coast of India.

Keywords

• Anomura
• India
• Porcelain crabs
• Porcellanella
• Recurrence