List of marine crabs (Decapoda: Anomura and Brachyura) of shallow littoral of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Abstract

Marine crustaceans constitute one of the best studied groups in the Cuban waters. However, the level of systematic knowledge about them differs among the ecoregions of the platform. This paper presents the systematic list of hermit, porcelain and brachyuran crabs of the coast of Santiago de Cuba, on the southeast platform of Cuba. The records of the species have been compiled between 2009 and 2013, in ten locations, which differ in the type of habitats. Additional material was examined in the collection of the Universidad de Oriente Museum Charles Ramsdem. Eighty-one species are represented (seven hermits, eight porcelains and sixty-six true crabs). Data on their local and global distribution, their habitat, and notes on their reproductive period and fishing use are also provided.