First record of a menippid crab Myomenippe hardwickii (Gray, 1831) from Hukitola, Odisha coast, India

Abstract

A menippid crab Myomenippe hardwickii (Gray, 1831) was obtained in the macrobenthic collections from Hukitola, a mangrove-associated Bay located south of Bhitarkanika, Odisha, on the east coast of India. Although the crab was reported from the coastal waters adjoining Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, documentation of the species from Odisha remained elusive until the current study. Therefore, species diagnosis with suitable illustrations and ecological details are provided.