Occurrence of violet vinegar crab Episesarma versicolor Tweedie, 1940 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in mangroves of Pichavaram and Vellar, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

During the present study on the diversity of brachyuran crabs from the mangroves of Pichavaram and Vellar, five male specimens of a sesarmid crab having stunning blend of violet and white pincers were caught from burrows at the base of mangrove trees. On closer examination, the species was found to be different from the other species which were already recorded. This was identified as Episesarma versicolor with the help of taxonomic keys. This happens to be the first report of this species from the mangroves of Tamil Nadu.