density assessment of muddy shore crabs in the eastern part of bandar abbas

crabs of intertidal zone of a muddy shore in bandar abbas were studied using monthly examination of goharshad and terminal stations during august 2005 to july 2006. sampling was done by corer and 14 species from 6 families were identified. crabs were from ocypodidae, pinnotheridae, pilumnidae, trapeziidae, leucosiidae and varunidae families. results showed ocypodidae, the most abundant and diverse with 1196 individuals/m 2, was more abundant but less diverse in goharshad station compared to terminal which could be attributed to the urban pollution in terminal station. pinnotheridae with 64 individuals/m 2 showed an adaptation to organic materials but was not resistant to being out of water. pilumnidae and trapeziidae were found in small numbers in the stattions. genus ebalia from leucosiidae with 27.18 individuals/m 2 showed positive reaction to organic materials and was resistant to being out of water. varunidae were present with a  few  specimens  probably because of human disturbance or speed in burrowing and escaping from sampling. because civic pollution enter terminal station, the results of this research showed that crabs react to urban pollution and hence are suitable as environmental indicators.