Brachyura (Grapsidae, Ocypodidae, Portunidae, Xanthidae and Leucosiidae) of Umm Al Quwain mangal, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The paper presents findings from a recent collection of crabs made during 1993 and 1994 from the mangal of the United Arab Emirates. The mangal invertebrate fauna of the UAE is not well known and an account is given of the families Grapsidae, Ocypodidae, Portunidae, Xanthidae and Leucosiidae collected from Umm Al Quwain khawr. For each species comments are made about their identification, habitat preferences and geographical distribution.