The state of the art of the research on the mangrove land crab, Ucides cordatus

Abstract

A member of Ocypodidae, the mangrove land crab, Ucides cordatus, is endemic to the Atlantic Coast of the Americas. It has considerable economic value to underpriviledged communities, which depend on it as a source of income and food. Ucides cordatus is considered as one of the most important biological components of mangrove ecosystems, particularly due to its role in the cycling of organic matter. Possibly as a consequence of the intense harvesting, the destruction of its habitats – the mangroves – and disease, there has been a decrease in the fishery stocks of the mangrove crab throughout the Brazilian coast. However, in spite of the cultural, ecological, and socio-economic importance of the species, the number of scientific studies on the mangrove land crab is still limited. The aim of the present study is to identify and relat the main studies published on the species until 2007.