Community Structure of Mud Crabs (Scylla spp.) from Buntal Mangroves,Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Ruhana, Hassan and Abang Mohammad Hudzaifah, Abang Shakawi and Durrah Syazwani, Mustapah (2022) Community Structure of Mud Crabs (Scylla spp.) from Buntal Mangroves,Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Malayan Nature Journal, 74 (2). pp. 329-336. ISSN 0025-1291

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Abstract

Mud crabs (Scylla spp.) are commercially important species in Buntal Mangroves, Kuching, Sarawak, harvested mainly to meet the demand from local seafood restaurants. Fishermen have claimed that the size of mud crabs has declined, but no scientific study has been carried out to verify the statement. Therefore, a study was carried out to determine mud crab species composition and current community structure. Between February 2019 and January 2020, a total of 244 mud crabs were caught in Buntal Mangroves using collapsible baited crab traps. Their carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW) and wet body weight (BW) were measured. Four species of mud crab were collected, namely Scylla serrata, S. paramamosain, S. tranquebarica and S.olivacea. The sex ratios of S. olivacea and S. paramamosain were male biased; however, no sexual dimorphism was observed across all species in this study. The largest but rarest species caught during this study was S. serrata. It is hoped that more research work could be done in future to support sustainable utilisation of the resource and benefit the local communities.

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