Ecological notes on the Red-eyed reef crab Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803) from the intertidal zone of Kadmat island, Lakshadweep, India

Naseem, N. M.; Davood, Nihal

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2022.262688

Ecological notes on the Red-eyed reef crab Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803) from the intertidal zone of Kadmat island, Lakshadweep, India

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2022.262688

Abstract

Research on the ecology of macrobenthos is an interesting and highly complex factor on earth. The red-eyed reef crab Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), belonging to the family Eriphiidae has a specific ecology within the habitat. Unfortunately, little is known about its distributional behavior with respect to environmental factors. Kadmat Island of Lakshadweep is a highly diversified island with a complex ecosystem. The study was conducted from November 2020 to February 2021. The E. sebana provides a key linkage between trophic levels in the marine food chains of the associated ecosystem. It releases bound nutrients into the reef waters by their feeding and excretion activities. These fascinating brachyurans inhabit the rocky coral crevices of the shorelines and other parts of the atoll. The body color of the bright red-eyed crabs reflects the color of their habitat; the greyish to brownish reef flats where many benthos are distributed. The ecology of these shore crabs is important in understanding the island ecosystem and its biodiversity and demands further detailed studies.

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