226 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.

11

Record of some Marine Crabs(Crustacea: Decapoda) from San Hlan coastal

beach, Launglon District,Tanintharyi Region

Thein Gi Thein1

Abstract
The present work aims to describe the current status of the marine water crab
species along San Hlan seashore of Launglon Township, Tanintharyi Region.
The study period lasted from January 2018 to July [Link] visit was
conducted and distribution of crabs was recorded from this seashore. Crabs were
collected by aid of local crab hunters from these study area. A total of 32 crab
species belonging to 14 families of order Decapoda were recorded from San
Hlan coastal areas. In all of the 32 crab species,20 species were found in marine
and mangrove area four species in sand area, seven species in mudflat area and
only one species found in crevices of rock area. The recorded of 19 species were
caught by beach seine net and 12 species were carried out by hand collection.
Only one species Scylla serrata was collected by crab trab. Five species,
Calappa bilineata,Matuta victor,Scylla serrata,Portunus pelagicus and Portunus
xantusii were economically important,some were exported to neighbouring
countries. Among them the mud crab(Scylla serrata) is a high demand item in
export market.
Keywords : Marine water crab, San Hlan seashore, distribution, marine &
Mangrove area
Introduction

Crabs belong to the Order Decapoda, which is classified into 2 main

groups, brachyuran crabs and anomuran crabs. Most species of Brachyura, or
“true crabs,” can easily be separated from the “false crabs” belonging to the
infraorder Anomura crabs always have only three pairs of walking legs clearly
visible, while the fourth pairs is very small (Wisesponpand,2011). At present,
there are approximately (25,000) species of crustaceans in the world (Friese and
Okutani, 1973). The crabs depend directly on mangrove areas for survival by
feeding on leaves and litter. The crabs have a significant role in detritus formation,
nutrient recycling and dynamics of the ecosystem, together with numerous
annelids and nematodes living in the sediment. The digging behavior by crabs
enhances aeration and facilitates drainage of mangrove soils.-Salinities found in
the mangrove (Khan and Ravichandran, 2007)
Generally, crabs were determined to male and female by their
abdominally segment shapes. The male has a T shaped abdomen that is held
tightly against the body until maturity when it becomes somewhat free. The
immature female has a triangular-shaped abdomen that is tightly sealed against the
body. Mature female’s abdomen becomes rounded and can be easily pulled out
from the body often the final molt (Enrlish Wilson, 1991). At the present study, an
attempt has been made on the study of some crabs from San-Hlan coastal area.
The crab samples were collected from water area, sand area ,muddy-silty sand
area, sand and rock area of San-Hlan coastal area. The objectives of the present
study are:
-to examine habitat preference of crab species
-to analyse the collected methods of the San-Hlan area
-to categorize edible and inedible crab species
-to investigate the species composition

1 Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Maubin University

Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11 227

Materials and methods

Study area and study period

Coastal area of San-Hlan village located in the Launglon District,
Tanintharyi Region was designated as study area 13˙56ʹ19.353ʺN and
98˙4ʹ33.494ʺE. (Plate 1). The study period lasted from January 2018 to July, 2018.
Study methods
The specimens from inter-tidal zones, mangrove area and rocky area of
San-Hlan seashore were collected. Once a month survey to study site and recorded
the individual number of crab species. Hand picking method was used for
sampling from four areas. Habitats of collected crab species and the specimens
caught by different fishing gears were noted. The intended utilization of the
marine crab (i.e. discarded, consumed and on sold)were determined by
interviewing with the fishermen. Collected crabs were sexed and carapace
length(C.L) and carapace width (C.W) were measured to the nearest millimeter by
using digital caliper. Habitats of collected crab species were noted and the species
caught by different fishing gears were also noted (Plate 2).
Preservation and identification of the specimen
Collected specimens were preserved in 10 percent formalin for later
examination, identification of the specimen. The crabs were identified to species
level in accordance with Alcock (1900),Chhapger (1956)and Wisespongp and
(2011).(Plate-3)

Results and Discussions

A total of 32 crab species under 21 genera of 14 families under two

infraorders, Brachyura and Anomura were recorded from the present study area.
228 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11

(Table 1).Chhpgar (1956) recorded that 35 species, in 27 genera as occurring from

Myanmar coastal waters. According to habitat preference, four habitat types,
water habitat type, sandy habitat type, muddy-silty sand habitat type and rock
areas habitat type were classified. Among them 20 crabs species from water type,
four species from sand type, seven species from muddy-silty sand and only one
species from rock area were collected.(Table 2, Fig.1).
In the present study, three collection methods, Beach seine net, the Crab
trap and by hand were applied. In the habitats, the crabs caught by the beach seine
net are in deep sea. The species caught by the crab trap is inhabited in mangrove
swamp area. The species that caught by hand was found in the sand beach of the
tidal zone. Total of 19 species of the crabs were collected by beach seine net,12
species by hand and one species (Scylla serrata) was collected by crab trap (Table
3, Fig.2) This species was exported species. The highest catch weight of this
species was examined during the cool season while lower catch weight was in hot
season, no collection was practiced during the rainy season. During cool season,
approximately 2-3Kg of catch out was collected by each fisherman. Twelve
species was recorded by hand collection method from sand beach muddy area and
mangrove forest. Myint Myint Aye (1995)recorded that some species were also
obtained from the taing-htaung-kyar nets of Pyin-ka-yaing .Some specimens were
also obtained from the fish catch of the beach seine drag nets from along the
beaches of both west and east banks of the Pathein River mouth. Then the
specimens were collected mainly by hand. During low tide, the most of the crabs
were on or under rocks of the intertidal zone. On overturning an exposed rock, the
crabs which had taken refuge under it can be easily caught. Some of them are fleet
and dart out on being exposed to take refuge again under or between nearby rocks
or crevices.
Among the size or these species the ranges of carapace length and width
were 0.20-90.00mm and 0.01-80.00mm respectively. The largest size in carapace
length was Portunus armatus and the second largest species was Scylla serrata
(Table 4, Fig. 3). In the present study, 23 species of edible crabs were examined
although the remaining of species were not edible (Table 5, Fig.4). Field (1995)
stated that the large edible swimming crab Scylla serrata inhabits the muddy
bottom of mangrove estuaries, as well as coastal brackish water. During study
period, highest individual number was (n=5744),in January and lowest individual
number was (n=1403) in July. The highest species number was (n=32) ,in January
and lowest was( n=28),in May, June ,July because fishermen were fishing in
January to April and September to December. In study period, the most dominant
species was Portunus sanguinolenatus (n=2) and the lowest species was Lambrus
prensor (n=1977) in water area (Table 6).
Marine crab is one of the indicator species of coastal area along marine
beach. They live in deep water, marsh swamp area of mangrove forest. Their
ecological role is manipulating micronutrients of soil they deposited. Crabs
species carried by the waves from deep sea are economically important and
exported to the nearby countries. Among them ,five species Calappa
bilineata,Matuta victor,Scylla serrata,Portunus pelagicus and Portunus xantusii
were economically important, some crabs are exported to neighboring countries
such as China and Thailand.
 229 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11

Table 1 Systematic position of some crabs from San-Hlan coastal area, Tanintharyi Region
Infraorder Family Genus Species Common name Local name
Brachyura Leucosiidae Euclosia [Link] (De Hann,1841) Crab Ganan
Calappidae Calappa [Link] Ng, Lai and Aungtonya, 2002 Box crab Ganan- phon-gyi
[Link] Borradaile, 1903 Box crab Ganan –phon gyi
Matutidae Matuta [Link] ( Forskal, 1755) Spotted moon crab Leik- Ganan
M. victor ( Fabricius, 1781) Spotted moon crab Leik- Ganan
Majidae Leptomithrax [Link]([Link] Edwards,1851) Ribbed spider crab Ganan
Epialtidae Libinia [Link] Leach, 1815 Spider crab Ganan
Parthenopidae Lambrus [Link] De Haan, 1839 Crab Ganan-pay-tan
[Link]( Herbst, 1796) Crab
Portunidae Scylla [Link] (Forskal, 1775) Mud crab Ganan – me
Portunus [Link]( Linnaeus, 1766) Blue swimming crab Ganan- sayay
[Link]( Herbst, 1796) Blue crab Wa- thone-lon- ganan
[Link] ( A. Miline Edwards, 1861) Blue crab Ganan- sayay
[Link] ( Stimpson, 1860) Xan swimming crab Thit- tone- ganan
Charybdis [Link] (Herbst, 1794) Swimming crab Ganan- nyo
[Link] (Herbst, 1794) Swimming crab Ganan- nyo
Thalamita [Link] Ruppell, 1830 Swimming crab Gannan
Podophthalmus P. vigil (Fabricius,1798) Swimming crab Ganan
Arenaeus A. cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) Swimming crab Ganan
Xanthoidae Liagore [Link] (De Haan, 1835) Crab Ganan
Grapsidae Grapsus [Link] Lamarck, 1818 Sally light foot crab Ganan- lat-phat
Sesarmidae Aratus [Link] [Link], 1837 Mangrove tree crab Ganan
Dotillidae Dotilla [Link] ([Link] Ewardsm 1852) Solider crab Ganan ball lone
Scopimera [Link] (De Haan, 1835) Sand bubbler crab Ganan phyu
Ocypodidae Gelasimus [Link] ([Link] Edwards, 1835) Fiddler crab De Kyin Ganan
[Link], 1921 Fiddler crab De Kyin Ganan
[Link] S.I Smith, 1848 Fiddler crab De Kyin Ganan
[Link] (2010) Fiddler crab De Kyin Ganan
[Link] (Stimpson, 1858) Fiddler crab De Kyin Ganan
Anomura Porcellanidae Petrolisthes [Link] (Randall, 1839) Porcelain crab Kyauk Ganan
Diogenidae Dardanus [Link] (Herbst, 1804) Hermit crab Win Ka Syut
Clibanarius [Link] Bosc 1802 Hermit crab Win Ka Syut
230 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11

Table 2 Habitats utilization of crab species from San-Hlan coastal area

Species Water Sand Muddy-silty sand Rock
Euclosia unidentata √
Calappa bilineata √
Calappa clypeata √
Matuta lunaris √
Matuta victor √
Leptomithrax sternocostulatus √
Libinia emarginata √
Lambrus validus √
Lambrus prensor √
Scylla serrata √
Portunus pelagicus √
Portunus sanguinolentus √
Portunus armatus √
Portunus xantusii √
Charybdis cruciata √
Charybdis natator √
Thalamita crenata √
Podophthalmus vigil √
Arenaeus cribrarius √
Liagore rubromaculata √
Grapsus albolineatus √
Aratus pisonii √
Dotilla myctiroides √
Scopimera globosa √
Gelasimus annulipes √
Gelasimus formonsensis √
Gelasimus crassipes √
Gelasimus jocelynae √
Gelasimus acuta √
Petrolisthes cinctipes √
Dardanus megistos √
Clibanarius vittatus √
Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11 231

Table 3 Collected method for the crab species from San-Hlan coastal area
Species Beach Seine Crab Trap By hand

Euclosia unidentata √
Calappa bilineata √
Calappa clypeata √
Matuta lunaris √
Matuta victor √
Leptomithrax sternocostulatus √
Libinia emarginata √
Lambrus validus √
Lambrus prensor √
Scylla serrata √
Portunus pelagicus √
Portunus sanguinolenatus √
Portunus armatus √
Portunus xantusii √
Charybdis cruciata √
Charybdis natator √
Thalamita crenata √
Podophthalmus vigil √
Arenaeus cribrarius √
Liagore rubromaculata √
Grapsus albilineatus √
Aratus pisonii √
Dotilla myctirocides √
Scopimera globosa √
Gelasimus annulipes √

Gelasimus formosensis √

Gelasimus crassipes √
Gelasimus jocelynae √
Gelasimus acutus √
Petrolisthes cinctipes √
Dardanus megistos √
Clibanarius vittatus √
232 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11

Table 4 Size variation of recorded crab species (mm)

Carapace Length Carapace Width
Species
(mm) (mm)
Euclosia unidentata 31.09 36.70
Calappa bilineata 83.10 61.51
Calappa clypeata 34.14 31.00
Matuta lunaris 39.00 36.00
Matuta victor 63.00 34.00
Leptomithrax sternocostulatus 6.00 9.00
Libinia emarginata 50.36 52.64
Lambrus validus 31.00 28.00
Lambrus prensor 25.00 28.00
Scylla serrata 90.00 135
Portunus pelagicus 58.00 133
Portunus sanguinolenatus 58.00 104
Portunus armatus 57.00 137
Portunus xantusii 66.54 41.43
Charybdis cruciata 55.00 80.00
Charybdis natator 57.00 130
Thalamita crenata 35.00 24.00
Podophthalmus vigil 30.00 20.00
Arenaeus cribrarius 50.00 35.00
Liagore rubromaculatus 24.57 18.24
Grapsus albolineatus 39.00 43.00
Aratus pisonii 2.30 2.00
Dotilla myctirocides 1.12 2.30
Scopimera globosa 7.53 6.66
Gelasimus annulipes 5.61 2.05
Gelasimus formosensis 4.94 1.11
Gelasimus crassipes 3.41 1.59
Gelasimus jocelynae 5.60 2.00
Gelasimus acutus 11.56 8.34
Petrolisthes cinctipes 10.51 10.11
Dardanus megistos 0.40 0.50
Clibanarius vittatus 0.20 0.30
Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11 233

Table 5 Edible and inedible of crab species from all study sites
Species Edible Non edible
Euclosia unidentata √
Calappa bilineata √
Calappa clypeata √
Matuta lunaris √
Matuta victor √
Leptomithrax sternocostulatus √
Libinia emarginata √
Lambrus validus √
Lambrus prensor √
Scylla serrate √
Portunus pelagicus √
Portunus sanguinolentus √
Portunus armatus √
Portunus xantusii √
Charybdis cruciata √
Charybdis natator √
Thalamita crenata √
Podophthalmus vigil √
Arenaeus cribrarius √
Liagore rubromaculata √
Grapsus albolineatus √
Aratus pisonii √
Dotilla myctiroides √
Scopimera globosa √
Gelasimus annulipes √
Gelasimus formonsensis √
Gelasimus crassipes √
Gelasimus jocelynae √
Gelasimus acutus √
Petrolisthes cinctipes √
Dardanus megistos √
Clibanarius vittatus √
 234 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11

Table 6 Monthly collected numbers of crabs from the study area

No Species Name Jan Feb March April May June July Total
1 Euclosia unidentata 30 25 13 11 8 6 1 94
2 Calappa bilineata 150 230 101 93 70 20 11 675
3 Calappa clypeata 114 120 97 85 62 14 13 505
4 Matuta lunaris 82 72 61 70 41 17 12 355
5 Matuta victor 86 80 71 58 53 18 15 381
Leptomithrax
sternocostulatus
6 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 4
7 Libinia emarginata 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
8 Lambrus validus 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 7
9 Lambrus prensor 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
10 Scylla serrata 250 303 270 190 89 212 118 1432
11 Portunus pelagicus 352 409 303 300 210 13 19 1606

Portunus sanguinolenatus
12 430 450 407 360 300 23 7 1977
13 Portunus armatus 243 200 130 140 91 4 15 823
14 Portunus xantusii 344 340 180 122 107 90 64 1247
15 Charybdis cruciata 141 123 108 100 104 78 58 712
16 Charybdis natator 129 94 58 43 35 61 49 469
17 Thalamita crenata 51 35 31 30 18 22 17 204
18 Podophthalmus vigil 54 51 50 47 36 31 20 289
19 Arenaeus cribrarius 10 8 3 5 4 5 1 36

Liagore rubromaculatus
20 5 3 2 3 1 2 1 17
21 Grapsus albolineatus 415 420 340 230 204 20 29 1658
22 Aratus pisonii 20 17 10 11 3 4 2 67
23 Dotilla myctirocides 23 19 13 8 5 4 3 75
24 Scopimera globosa 16 13 8 9 5 8 9 68
25 Gelasimus annulipes 450 460 440 390 430 84 90 2344
26 Gelasimus formosensis 410 420 430 420 301 92 83 2156
27 Gelasimus crassipes 422 470 330 390 213 53 79 1957
28 Gelasimus jocelynae 330 317 307 310 187 158 167 1776
29 Gelasimus acutus 489 337 320 278 213 16 150 1803
30 Petrolisthes cinctipes 3 5 2 3 2 4 4 23
31 Dardanus megistos 370 362 305 307 212 173 175 1904
32 Clibanarius vittatus 318 330 327 301 201 188 191 1856

Total individual number 5744 5717 4720 4316 3205 1420 1403 26525

Total Species 32 31 30 30 28 28 28 32
Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11 235

Figure 1 Collected crab species from different habitat types

Figure 2 Collected crab species by different collection methods

Fig. 3 Comparison
son of
Compariiso of carapace
carrap llength
pacce leength aand
ngth nd width
width off the
idth
dth he collected
th coll
co
o leeccte
cte
ted cr
ted b sspecies
crab
rab peeciiess

Figure 3 Comparison of carapace length and width of the collected crab

species

Inedible

Figure 4 Monthly collected numbers of crabs from the study area

 236 Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11

A. Euclosia unidentata B. Calappa bilineata C. Calappa clypeata

G. Libinia emarginata H. Lambrus validus I. Lambrus prensor

D. Matuta lunaris E. Matuta victor F. Leptomithrax sternocostulatus

Plate.3, Recorded species J. Scylla serrata K. Portunus pelagicus L. Portunus sanguinolentus

15
Plate 3 Continued
16

S. Arenaeus cribrarius T. Liagore rubromaculata U. Grapsus albolineatus

M. Portunus armatus N. Portunus xantusii O. Charybdis cruciata

V. Aratus pisonii W. Dotilla myctirocides X. Scopimera globosa

P. Charybdis natator Q. Thalamita crenata R. Podophthalmus vigil
Plate 3 Continued
Plate 3 Continued
17
18

Y. Gelasimus annulipes Z. Gelasimus formosensis AA. Gelasimus crassipes

EE. Dardanus megistos FF. Clibanarius vittatus

BB. Gelasimus jocelynae CC. Gelasimus acutus DD. Petrolisthes cinctipes

Plate 3 Continued
Plate 3 Continued

19
20

Plate 2 Recorded crab species from San-Hlan coastal area

Conclution

The marine crab fauna from study sites of San-Hlan area were not found
previously. Most of the crab species were discarded in this area. Therefore,
biological study and utilization of crab fauna in improved understanding by local
fishermen regarding the importance of marine water crabs in the ecosystem are
essential. The present finding could be useful for the further establishment of
Maubin University Research Journal 2020, Vol.11 237

suitable plants to maintain marine crab population by limiting the size and number
of crabs harvested.

Acknowledgements

I am thankful to Rector Dr. Aung kyaw, Maubin University for accepting the research
topic and providing facilities for it. I am also greatly obligated to Pro-rectors, Dr. Win Myint Thein
and Dr. Lwin Lwin Myint, Maubin University for their invaluable suggestions and help. I would
like to extend my profound gratitude to Dr. Ni Ni Soe, Professor(Head) of Zoology Department,
Maubin University for her permission to conduct this research and helpfulness, providing
necessary facilities at the department. I would like to express my sincerest thanks to profissor Dr.
Yee Yee Cho Department of Zoology Maubin University for her permission and suggestions.

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Friese,V.E., Okutani, T.,[Link] [Link] Inc.,240pp.
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Ayeyarwaddy Division. [Link]. Thesis, Yangon University.
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