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BIOTROPIA Vol. 18 No. 2, 2011: 61 - 73
OCCURRENCE OF ARBOREAL-CLIMBING
GRAPSIDS AND OTHER BRACHYURANS IN TWO
MANGROVE AREAS OF SOUTHERN LUZON,
PHILIPPINES
JIMMY T. MASAGCA
Received 06 August 2010/Accepted 02 May 2011
Despite the obvious importance to ecosystem functioning, the most prominent groups
belonging to the Grapsidae are generally regarded as less studied in the Philippines. In this
study, the occurrence of arboreal-climbing grapsids and other brachyurans associated with the
mangals of Quezon and Catanduanes was considered including some aspects on climbing,
burrowing and feeding behaviour of selected grapsids represented by
and . The non-grapsoid taxa are represented by Varunidae ( ),
Portunidae ( , , , ); and Eriphiidae ( ).
(White 1847) [ ] is an exclusive mangrove tree climber (EMTC), while
(A. Milne Edwards 1873) is described here as occasional mangrove tree
climber (OMTC). (De Haan 1835) is a
non-mangrove arborealclimbing species (NTC) only seen on crevices of the mangrove areas.
creates burrows most often than . Likewise, the study provides
information on the presence of the portunid orange mud crab ( ); the green mud
crab ( ); the varunid ( ); and extremely abundant xanthiid
crab, in the mangroves of Catanduanes but not in Pagbilao,Quezon.
Grapsid crabs, brachyurans, mangroves, Philippines
Catanduanes State Colleges, Virac 4800, Catanduanes, The Philippines;
Pacific Island Institute for Pedagogy, Technology, Arts & Sciences, Inc. (Pacifictech)
82 A Constantino Street, Virac 4800, Catanduanes, Philippines;
De La Salle University-D, Cavite, Philippines)
Hemigrapsus, Pseudograpsus
Metopograpsus Ptychognathus
Charybdis Portunus Scylla Thalamita Epixanthus Metopograpsus
latifrons Grapsus
Pseudograpsus elongatus
Hemigrapsus (Hemigrapsus) penicillatus [Grapsus (Eriocheir)]
P. elongatus M. latifrons
Scylla olivacea
S. paramamosain Ptychognathus altimana
Epixanthus dentatus
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Key words:
The brachyurans are interesting to study in terms of their association with
mangrove flora, behavior, feeding and ecology (Khan . 2005). This group makes
up as much as 80% of the macro−faunal biomass in mangroves and densities can even
reach to 80 to 90 sq. m. Reports attest that the mangrove forest constitutes the habitat
et al
* Corresponding author : pacifictechjtm@yahoo.com
61
with the richest diversity of land dwelling crabs (Hartnoll 1988, Fratini . 2005). It is
also indicated that the most important functional role of mangrove crabs which
received greater attention is their ability to process as much as 70% of the leaf litter
(Leh & Sasekumar 1985, Slim . 1997, Dahdouh-Guebas . 1999, Ashton 2002). It
was reported by Jones (1984) and Lee (1998) that brachyurans are important in the
mangrove ecosystem structure and function. Members of family Grapsidae are
possibly one of the most important components of the fauna of mangrove forests
globally, in part because of their influence in nutrient cycling by feeding on litterfall
(Salgado-Kent & McGuinness 2010). Unfortunately, it appears that there is still a
dearth of detailed published information on the structural components as to the
occurrence of these grapsoidal families like Grapsidae and other brachyurans in the
mangroves of the Philippines. There are few reports in this country that deal with the
ways in which these crabs use the mangrove resources compared to other southeast
Asian countries wherein numerous crab literature are available (Sivasothi 2000,
Sivasothi . 1993, Tan & Ng 1994, Ng & Liu 1999, Leh & Sasekumar 1985,
Soemodihardjo & Soerianegara 1989, Rahayu & Davie 2002, Poovachiranon 1986,
Lee & Leung 1993, Lee 1998, Kwok & Tang 2005). Except for some previous reports
(McNae 1968, Banaag 1972, Zamora 1989a, Zamora 1989b, Dolar 1991, Dólar
1991), there are scanty reports on occurrence, ecology and physiology of the
mangrove-dwelling arboreal-climbing grapsid crabs in the Philippines.
This paper presents the occurrence of arboreal-climbing grapsid crabs and other
brachyurans associated with the mangrove areas in Quezon and Catanduanes Island,
Luzon (Philippines). Some insights on the dependence to mangrove trees as habitats,
climbing skills and burrowing behavior of these grapsids are also noted.
Crab specimens were handpicked and scooped using nets and locally made traps
during daytime and at night time in two mangrove areas of southern Luzon,
Philippines: (1) Palsabangon mangrove area, Pagbilao, Quezon; and (2)
and the Palnab-Pajo mangrove areain Catanduanes island. The
collection sites include areas along rivers, creeks, inlets and the buffer zones or
marginal strips of the coastline from June 2005 to February 2006. In addition nearby
rivers, backshores and inside mangrove forests were also surveyed in May 2007 for
these arboreal-climbing grapsid crabs. One female and several male specimens were
obtained in each study area.
Measurements of the crab specimens were represented by maximum carapace
width ( ); carapace length ( ); body height ( ); and chelar palm height (cph).
Ratios of cal/mcw, boh/mcw and cph/mcw were computed. All measurements are
made with Vernier calipers and ratios are in two decimal places following Ng and Liu
(1999) as used by Masagca (2009). Observations on the feeding ecology of the crabs
under study were carried out each of the mangrove study areas modifying the methods
of Gillikin (2000). In the mangrove areas covered, presence or absence of crab species
were determined by visual inspection in 10 m diameter plots along a transect
et al
et al et al
et al
et al.
Agojo Inlet
Mangrove Reserve Project
mcw cal boh
MATERIALS AND METHODS
62
BIOTROPIA Vol. 18 No. 2, 2011
perpendicular to the coastline, covering the full width of the forest. The study
investigated at least 10 plots along a 100 to 200 m long transect in the study areas.
Table 1 presents arboreal-climbing mangrove grapsid crabs described in the
present study, while Table 2 shows the other brachyurans (or non-grapsids) occurring
in the areas under investigation. Based on the field surveys conducted in banks of the
streams or rivers, backshores and inside mangrove forests, the families of brachyurans
included in this report are the (1) Grapsidae, (2) Portunidae, (3) Varunidae and (4)
Eriphiidae. As shown in the said tables these brachyurans include 3 genera
( , and ) for family Grapsidae; a single genus
( ) for Varunidae; 4 genera ( , , and ) for
Portunidae and a single genus ( ) for Eriphiidae.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Occurrence and some taxonomic diagnosis descriptions on the mor phometry
Metopograpsus Pseudograpsus Hemigrapsus
Ptychognathus Scylla Thalamita Portunus Charybdis
Epixanthus
Table1. Summary of the different taxa of grapsoid sesarmid crabs identified in selected mangrove areas in
Quezon and Catanduanes.
Brachyurans in two mangrove areas of Southern Luzon, Philippines - Jimmy T. Masagca
63
Family Genus Species Occurrence/Location
Grapsidae Hemigrapsus
Metopograpsus
Pseudograpsus
Hemigrapsus penicillatus
Metopograpsus latifrons
Pseudograpsus elongates
Quezon
Catanduanes
Quezon
Table 2. Summary of taxa of non-grapsoid sesarmid crabs obtained from different locations.
Family Genus Species Occurrence/Location
Varunidae Ptychognathus Ptychognathus altimana Catanduanes, Quezon
Portunidae Charybdis
Portunus
Scylla
Thalamita
Charybdis affinis
Portunus pelagicus
Scylla serrata
Scylla olivacea
Thalamita crenata
Quezon, Catanduanes
Quezon
Quezon, Catanduanes
Quezon
Quezon, Catanduanes
Eriphiidae Epixanthus Epixanthus dentatus Catanduanes
Based on field surveys, the different arboreal-climbing grapsid crabs associated
with the mangrove areas under study include the three genera: (1)
1851 (2) H. Milne Edwards, 1853
) and (3) H. Milne Edwards, 1837 These
grapsid crabs were known to occur both in the lowland portions of streams, estuaries,
and backshores of the. The grapsid (White 1847) [ ] in Quezon and
Catanduanes island was observed to be associated with the sesarmid crabs,
(De Haan 1835) and H. Milne Edwards, 1853 [ ]. This
means that these mangrove crabs occupy the same spots in the mangrove habitats that
include feeding as shown in their climbing and burrowing behavior.
Hemigrapsus Dana,
(Hemigrapsus penicillatus), Metopograpsus (Metopograpsus
latifrons Pseudograpsus (Pseudograpsus elongatus).
M. latifrons Grapsus
Perisesarma
bidens Neosarmatium smithii Sesarma
BIOTROPIA Vol. 18 No. 2, 2011
64
The same observation that greater number of grapsid crabs occur in the banks of
the stream and at the backshore of the mangrove rather than inside or within the
forests of the 2 mangrove areas confirming the previous made by Tam and Wong
(2000), showing a significant difference in occurrence or diversity of grapsoid
sesarmids and other brachyurans.
The succeeding paragraphs present some taxonomic descriptions and
morphometry of the arboreal climbing grapsids and other brachyurans.
= H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (type species Forskal, 1775,
subsequent designation by Davie, 2002; gender masculine)
White, 1847 [nomen nudum]
H. Milne Edwards, 1853
De Haan in Herklots, 1861 (nomen nudum)
De Man, 1879
A. Milne-Edwards, 1867
Metopograpsus
Metopograpsus latifrons Grapsus
H. Milne-Edwards, 1853 (GRAPSIDAE)
(White, 1847) [ ]
Metopograpsus Cancer messor
= Grapsus latifrons
= Metopograpsus maculatus
= Grapsus (Grapsus) dilatatus
= Grapsus (Grapsus) dilatatus
= Metopograpsus pictus
Figure 1. from a Maqueda Channel mangrove area (Palnab-Pajo Mangrove) in Catanduanes
Island
Metopograpsus latifrons
This arboreal-climbing grapsid has squarish carapace, slightly converging
backwards; with 3 maxilliped not meeting in the middle line; and one tooth behind the
antero-lateral one. Carapace of appears to be converging backwards.
This grapsid attacks the collector during several field works in Quezon and
Catanduanes. This crab is conspicuously found in sluice gates of fish ponds in the
mangrove area, prop roots of and tree trunks. As an arboreal - climbing
grapsid crab, this opportunistic animal was observed to assume an inverted or
downward position (facing the water) when found on trunks of mangrove trees. Some
samples were also collected in crevices of trees during low tides. This grapsoid crab
feeds on leaves, algae mollusks (Vannini . 1997) and crustaceans (Jones 1984). It is also
stressed that in another species of the genus is less dependent
on the leaves of mangrove plants (Dahdouh-Guebas 1999). In Singapore, 3
species ( and have been the subject of several reports.
H. Milne Edwards, 1837 (type species Latreille,
1817, subsequent designation by Holthuis, 1977; gender masculine)
rd
M. latifrons
Rhizophora
et al
Metopograpsus, M. oceanicus
et al.
M. gracilipes, M. frontalis M. latifrons)
= Pseudograpsus Grapsus penicilliger
Genus Pseudograpsus H. Milne Edwards, 1837
65
= Pachystomum Nauck, Pachystomum philippinense
= Pseudograpsus erythraeus
Pseudograpsus
elongates
mcw boh
1880 (type species Nauck, 1880, by
monotypy; gender neuter)
Kossmann, 1877
Table 3 shows the mean values of morphometric data of grapsid crab
from the mangroves under study. Males tend to be larger in terms of body size
as to maximum carapace width ( ) and body height ( ).
Pseudograpsus elongatus Heterograpsus(A. Milne-Edwards, 1873) [ ]
Table 3. Mean values( )of the morphometry of from Catanduanesin mm P. elongatus
Sex of
crabs mcw cal cal/mcw Boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 32.95 37.23 1.13 18.62 0.56 14.82 0.45
Female 31.19 37.82 1.21 10.67 0.34 11.62 0.37
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; cal=carapace length; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height
(all values are in mm).
Table 4. Mean values( )of some of the morphometrics of
Female crab samples of , showed a mean mcw = 31.19 mm, while
males = 32.95 mm. In terms boh, females mean showed mean boh of 10.67 mm
and males gave a mean boh of 18.62 mm. Body form for females (boh/mcw =
10.67mm/31.19 mm = 0.34± 0.01, N=2), while for males (boh/mcw = 18.62
mm/32.95 mm = 0.56± 0.01, N=8) the body form is relatively vaulted. Chelipeds
equal and sexually dimorphic. Male chelae larger (cph/mcw = 14.82mm/ 32.95mm =
0.45) and more strong than females (cph/mcw = 11.65mm/31.19mm = 0.37).
Identifying characters of are two distinct teeth behind the antero-
lateral one, carapace converging backwards. Carapace squarish, slightly converging
backwards; 3 maxilliped not meeting in the middle line; legs and carapace not hairy,
carapace slightly convex; two distinct teeth behind the antero-lateral one.
= Dana, 1851 (type species Dana, 1851,
subsequent designation by Rathbun, 1918; gender masculine)
= A. Milne-Edwards, 1869 (type species H. Milne
Edwards, 1837, subsequent designation by Rathbun, 1918; gender masculine)
= Yokoya, 1928
P. elongatus
P. elongatus
Hemigrapsus Hemigrapsus crassimanus
Lobograpsus Cyclograpsus crenulatus
Brachynotus brevidigitatus
rd
Genus Hemigrapsus
Hemigrapsus penicillatus Grapsus Eriocheir
Dana, 1851
(De Haan, 1835) [ ( )]
in mm H. penicillatus
Sex of crabs mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 28.72 17.02 0.59 9.39 0.33
Female 27.29 12.07 0.34 9.02 0.33
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height (all values are in mm).
Table 4 shows the identity of the grapsid, De Haan, 1858 from
Catanduanes which was confirmed by Ms. Marivene Manuel from the PNM in Manila.
H. penicillatus
Brachyurans in two mangrove areas of Southern Luzon, Philippines - Jimmy T. Masagca
BIOTROPIA Vol. 18 No. 2, 2011
66
VARUNIDAE H. MILNE EDWARDS, 1853
Genus Stimpson, 1858
Rathbun, 1914 [ ]
Ptychognathus
Ptychognathus altimanus Varuna
= Stimpson, 1858 (type species Stimpson, 1858, by
monotypy; gender masculine) [Opinion 85, Direction 37]
= Nauck, 1880, (type species Coelochirus crinipes Nauck, 1880, by
monotypy; gender masculine)
Table 5 shows the summary of the mean values of selected morphometrics of
Males are bigger than females. Carapace pitted but glabrous, a little
broader than long ( =39.54/36.08); lateral margin with two sharp teeth; legs
fringed on the last 3 joints. Male chelipeds are larger (cph/mcw=0.38) than the females
(cph/mcw=0.22).
Ptychognathus Ptychognathus glaber
Coelochirus
P. altimanus.
mcw/cal
Table 5. Mean values( )of the some morphometrics ofin mm P. altimanus
Sex of
crabs
mcw cal cal/mc
w
boh boh/mcw Cph cph/mcw
Male 39.54 36.06 0.91 15.56 0.56 15.02 0.38
Female 33.09 32.56 0.98 15.36 0.34 7.37 0.22
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; cal=carapace length; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height (all
values are in mm).
Samples were collected near the canals connected to a small stream inundated
during the high tides. This varunid crab is abundant in the backshore portions of the
mangroves. Found in the back mangroves of Quezon and Catanduanes (near the rice
paddies) and at the edges near the areas where freshwater streams are flowing. Ng .
(2008) notes that is being revised by N.K. Ng P.K.L. Ng. Several groups
of species are now recognizable and new genera will be established for them.
= Forskal, 1775
= Herbst, 1794
= Marion de Proce, 1822
= var. Shen, 1932
As shown in Table 6, males of are bigger than females. Buccal frame
rectangular; carapace much wider than long (mcw/cal - 116.57/48.44= 2.41), bow
fronted, and much serrate, drawn out into lateral spikes. Chelae strong but slender.
Buccal frame rectangular, last pair of walking legs paddle-like; 9 antero-lateral spines.
Samples of this portunid crab were obtained at the outer margins of the mangrove
forest areas in Quezon and Catanduanes. The use of baited lift nets (local name=
“bintol”) allowed for the collection of this crabs.
et al
Ptychognathus
Cancer pelagicus
Cancer cedonulli
Portunus denticulatus
Portunus pelagicus sinensis
P. pelagicus
PORTUNIDAE RAFINESQUE, 1815
Subfamily Portuninae Rafinesque, 1815
Genus Weber, 1795
Linnaeus, 1758) [Cancer]
Portunus
Portunus (Pelagicus) pelagicus
67
Table 6. Mean values( )of the some morphometrics ofin mm P. pelagicus
Sex of
crabs
mcw cal cal/mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 116.57 48.44 0.42 25.73 0.22 17.78 0.152
Female 112.65 48.65 0.43 20.38 0.18 17.35 0.154
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; cal=carapace length; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height
(all values are in mm).
Genus
Forskal, 1775) [ ]
Scylla De Haan, 1833
Scylla serrata ( Cancer
= Scylla Cancer serratus
Achelous crassimanus
Scylla tranquebarica oceánica
Lupa lobifrons
De Haan, 1833 (type species Forskal, 1775, subsequent
designation by Rathbun, 1922; gender feminine)
= MacLeay, 1838
= var. Dana, 1852
= H. milne Edwards, 1834
AB
Figure 2. (A, carapace) Pagbilao Quezon and Maqueda Channel Catanduanes.Scylla serrata
As presented in Table 7, male samples of obtained from the study areas
are smaller than the female samples. Samples obtained were heavy with moderately
convex carapace ( - 63.54/40.46 = 1.57), with 4 teeth; antero-lateral margin
with 7 teeth, periopods/pleopods smooth, no hairs.
Table 7. Mean values ( ) of the some morphometrics of
S. Serrata
mcw/cal
in mm S. serrata
Sex of crabs mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 63.54 21.56 0.34 8.07 0.13
Female 67.85 23.45 0.35 9.23 0.14
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height (all values are in mm).
Scylla olivacea Cancer(Herbst, 1796) [ ]
Summary data on selected morphometrics of are presented in Table 8.
Ratios obtained for boh/mcw and cph/mcw show almost the same values, which may
indicate that sexual dimorphism is not that intense.
S. olivacea
Brachyurans in two mangrove areas of Southern Luzon, Philippines - Jimmy T. Masagca
BIOTROPIA Vol. 18 No. 2, 2011
68
Table 8 Mean values of the some morphometrics of. (in mm) S. olivacea
Sex of crabs mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 62.02 20.34 0.33 7.09 0.11
Female 63.52 21.57 0.34 7.26 0.12
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height (all values are in mm).
Genus Charybdis
harybdis (Charybdis) affinis
De Haan, 1833
C Dana, 1852
=? Gordon, 1931Charybdis bar neyi
Figure 3. General view of from Quezon.
Table 9. Mean values( )of the some morphometrics of
Charybdis affinis
in mm C. affinis
Carapace of more or less hexagonal (mcw/cal 40.09/29.63= 1.353),
antero-lateral margins diverging backwards, fronto-lateral much less than maximum
width, bow-shaped front cut into 6 teeth. Table 9 shows that the ratio of cph/mcw for
both male and female samples are almost the same. Ward (1941, cited by Ng 2008)
described from Davao as: carapace is broader than long, bare and
glossy, g ranulated under lens.
C. affinis
et al.
C. philippinensis
Sex of crabs mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 43.34 16.8 0.39 17.78 0.41
Female 40.09 15.64 0.39 16.52 0.41
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height (all values are in mm).
Genus Latreille, 1829
Ruppell, 1830 [ , sic]
Thalamita
Thalamita crenata Talamita
= Thalamita Cancer adnete
= Thalamonyx Goniosoma danae
T. crenata
mcw cal
Latreille, 1829 (type species Herbst, 1803, by monotypy;
gender feminine)
A. Milne Edwards, 1873 (type species A. Milne
Edwards, 1869, subsequent designation by Rathbun, 1922; gender masculine)
As shown in Table 10, carapace of (Figure 4) is much more or less
hexagonal ( = 50.63 mm, = 32.02 mm), but antero-lateral margins sub-parallel;
fronto-orbital not much less than maximum carapace width; chelipeds strong
( =11.35 mm, male; 12.06 mm, female); transverse ridges usually distinct. Carapace
is rounded with five antero-lateral teeth.
cph
Figure 4. from Pagbilao, Quezon.
Table 10 Mean values of the some morphometrics of
Thalamita crenata
. (in mm) T. crenata
Sex of
crabs
mcw cal cal/mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 50.63 47.01 0.93 17.93 0.35 11.34 0.22
Female 31.04 32.02 1.03 17.43 0.56 12.06 0.39
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width cal=carapace length; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height
(all values are in mm)
SUPERFAMILY ERIPHIOIDEA MACLEAY, 1838
FAMILY ERIPHIIDAE MACLEAY, 1838
Genus Heller, 1861
(White, 1848) [ ]
Epixanthus
Epixanthus dentatus Panopeus
= Heller, 1861 (type species Heller, 1861, by monotypy;
gender masculine)
= De Man, 1879
= Haswell, 1881
The mangrove crab, (Figure 5) displays two visible spines on the upper
internal face of claw carpus; 5 big teeth on the antero-lateral carapace margins,
carapace widely mottled. Celipeds are unequal (right larger than left). Table 11 shows
that chelipeds of male samples (0.40) are larger compared to the female samples (0.26)
Epixanthus Epixanthus kotschii
Epixanthus dilatatus
Panopeus acutidens
E. dentatus
ABC
Figure 5. (carapace) from Palnab-Pajo Mangrove Area in Virac, Catanduanes (A), frontal
view (B) and forcept-like claws (C).
Epixanthus dentatus
69
Brachyurans in two mangrove areas of Southern Luzon, Philippines - Jimmy T. Masagca
Table 11. Mean values( )of the some morphometrics ofin mm E. dentatus
Sex of
crabs
mcw cal cal/mcw boh boh/mcw cph cph/mcw
Male 45.02 32.41 0.72 19.32 0.43 18.21 0.40
Female 50.01 29.45 0.59 17.05 0.34 13.01 0.26
Legend: mcw=maximum carapace width; cal= carapace length; boh= body height; cph= chelar palm height (all
values are in mm).
Samples of were obtained under drift woods, buried on the mud. The right
claw of this crab is stout and consists of a special tooth which it uses to open gastropods.
Plate 17B (Fig. 5) shows the forcept-like claw of the crab. This crab is omnivorous
(Dahdouh-Guebas . 1999), but preys mostly on crabs (Cannicci . 2008).
On the arboreal-climbing behavior, several individuals of the mangrove crabs,
(White, 1847) were observed as exclusive tree-climber (EMTC) in mangrove
canopies. This grapsid, invariably stays longer on the branches of mangrove trees with
mostly upside down position. During the study, climbing height range of 50 grapsid crabs
(in each study area) observed from 0.065 m to 2.35 m above the water lining. Majority
of these grapsid crabs climb at the main trunks of and sometimes on the
branch of when the tide is rising and when insects (e.g. spiders) are also found,
since they are omnivorous feeders (Jones 1984). Although some are seen
on the lateral branches, these are only happening when these grapsids were antagonized.
It was observed that when are being caught by hand picking at the bottom of
the trunk of the mangrove tree submerged in water, some of these crabs rushed to the
upper portion of the trunk evading from the capturist. In Catanduanes, a greater number
of occur in the mangrove areas studied supporting the high biomass
and density report in Segera Anakan, Indonesia (Geist 2011). This climbing behavior
was not observed in the grapsid crabs of Quezon.
Another observation refers to the tendency of the grapsid, to climb in
the fronds of when chased or antagonized while they are in the water.
Individuals of this grapsid, (and also the sesarmid crab, )
tend to escape or evade the researchers by climbing fast to the trees.
The other grapsid, is known to be an occasional mangrove tree-climber
(OMTC), while is non-arboreal species (NAS) that was seen only in
crevices of the mangrove areas.
On burrowing behavior, the grapsid also creates burrows and so with
, but the former is more active compared to the latter. Burrowing activities
have a pronounced effect on sediment properties, contributing immensely in
rendering changes in the properties of mang rove sediments. As noted by Nagelkerken
(2008) changes in biochemical processes can be observed by enhancing the
porosity and water flow through the sediment, assisting in flushing toxic substances.
Crab burrows provide an efficient mechanism for exchanging water between the
anoxic substrate and the overlying tidal water.
Jones (1984) described the feeding habits of mangrove crabs and divided into
seven groups: herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, deposit feeder, omnivore/deposit
E. dentatus
et al et al
M. latifrons
Rhizophora
Sonneratia
M. latifrons
M. latifrons
M. latifrons
et al.
M. latifrons
Nypa fruticans
M. latifrons Selatium elongatum
P. elongatus,
H. penicillatus
P. elongatus
M. latifrons
et al.
Arboreal-climbing, burrowing and feeding behavior of the grapsid crabs
70
BIOTROPIA Vol. 18 No. 2, 2011
feeder, specialized filterer, and filterer/omnivore. The grapsids
are herbivores and omnivore/deposit feeders, eating mangrove litter
and water plants. Nordhaus (2011) described extensively the food preferences,
diet and food consumption of grapsoid crabs in Indonesia. This will become an
important reference for studying further the food and feeding habits of grapsids in the
Philippines.
A total of 3 genera belonging to the family Grapsidae (
and ) are reported here possessing tree-climbing abilities.
(White 1847) [ ] is an exclusive mangrove tree climber (EMTC), while
(A. Milne Edwards 1873) is described here as occasional
mangrove tree climber (OMTC). (De Haan, 1835)
on-mangrove arboreal-climbing species (NTC) only seen on
crevices of the mangrove areas. The non-grapsoidal brachyurans are represented by 3
families [(Varunidae ( ), Portunidae ( , , , );
and Eriphiidae ( )]. To what extent this tree-climbing abilities of the said
grapsid crabs in Quezon and Catanduanes relate to the feeding behaviour of the
grapsid crabs reported in the present study awaits further studies. Likewise, food
preference, diet and consumption of these grapsid crabs from the Philippines indicate
future needs.
The author acknowledges with thanks to the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas,
University Faculty Research Office (UFRO) for funding a research on the mangrove
crabs. Profound thanks to Asst. Prof. Rico Masagca of DLSU-Manila and President &
CEO of Pacifictech, Mrs. Rose M. Gianan, Tersy M. Flores, Mrs. Margie M. Sabino,
Mrs. Elsie M. Almonte, Yule, Mark, Kate and Marby Jean for their unending support
in this work on mangrove brachyurans. The head of the Catanduanes State Colleges,
Dr. Minerva Morales (SUC President III) is also greatly appreciated.
M. latifrons, P. elongates
and N. penicillatus
et al.
Hemigrapsus, Pseudograpsus
Metopograpsus Metopograpsus
latifrons Grapsus
Pseudograpsus elongatus
Hemigrapsus (Hemigrapsus) penicillatus
[Grapsus (Eriocheir)] is a n
Ptychognathus Charybdis Portunus Scylla Thalamita
Epixanthus
CONCLUSIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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