Diversity of Decapod Fauna from Mangrove Ecosystem of Uran (Raigad), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, West Coast of India

Healthy mangrove forests provide a critical habitat for many species of decapods in intertidal and estuarine areas and are key to a healthy marine ecology. Mangroves are the most suitable feeding, breeding and nursing grounds for the decapods. With continuing degradation and destruction of mangroves, there is a critical need to understand the biodiversity of the mangrove ecosystems. Data on species diversity of decapods in mangrove ecosystem of Uran revealed presence of 26 species representing 18 genera and 12 families of the recorded species, 50.00% belonged to crabs, 42.31% to Prawns and shrimps and 3.85% each to lobsters and squilla.Fiddler crab (Uca annulipes) and hermit crab (Pagurus prideaux) are abundant at both sites. Species like Scylla serrata and Leptodius exaratus were common whereas occasional distribution of Portunus sanguinolentus, P. pelagicus, Charybdis cruciata was noted. Penaeus monodon, P. semisculatus, Metapenaeus affinis and Acetes indicus were common whereas Panulirus polyphagus and Squilla mantis were rare at both sites. At present, mangroves of Uran supports moderate density of decapods. Since no earlier reports are available, data presented here can be taken as a baseline data in knowing the status of decapods in mangroves of Uran.