Edinburgh Napier University

  Brachyuran crabs are the most conspicuous macrobenthic fauna in Brazilian mangrove forests and salt marshes. This chapter presents basic information about the habitat, spatial distribution, and most remarkable biological features of 36 species from these ecosystems in Brazil. A brief overview of the crabs’ ecological role is given, and, for exploited species, their socioeconomic roles are described, as well as the techniques with which they are fished and the status of their current fisheries management and conservation.