MORPHO-TAXONOMY OF SOME MARINE BRACHYURAN CRABS OF PAKISTAN OTHER THAN BRACHYRHYCHAN

Abstract

The present dissertation is based on the study of non-brachyrhynchan crabs (Crustacea, Brachyura) of Pakistan. The material includes collections of the Marine Reference collection centre as well as from other sources both local and foreign. In all forty-seven species pertaining to eight families and thirty-four genera, have been thoroughly studied, fifteen of these species are recorded for the first time from the northern Arabian Sea (Pakistan). One new sub-species is also established. Three species are still unidentified, they may prove to be new to science. Each species is redescribed and illustrated; notes on colour, habit and habitat are given. Wherever possible large series are studied for individual variations. Keys to the Pakistani families, genera and species are presented Historical resume and notes on zoogeography are also included Two species were reared under laboratory conditions, the larvae are described and illustrated