Diversity and Distribution of Crustacea Fauna in Wetlands of West Bengal

Abstract

An inventory of crustacean species occurring in different wetland ecosystems of West Bengal is presented in the form of a systematic checklist. The inventory includes 535 species of crustaceans belonging to 283 genera and 119 families showing districtwise distribution of each species in the state. Of these, brachyuran crabs represent the highest diversity of species (152) followed by copepoda (114 species) and cladocera (81 species). Crustaceans belonging to Conchostraca, Anostraca, Gebiidea, Tanaidacea and Cumacea are represented only by a single species each. Crustacean species which inhabit diversified freshwater, brackishwater, estuarine and coastal wetlands of South 24-Parganas district shows the greatest diversity.