A toxonomic survey of intertidal marine crabs found in Bataan, Cavite and Quezon Province

The collection of brachyuran crabs in Bataan, Cavite and Quezon Provinces resulted in thirty-seven species under eight families, thirty-six species belong to twenty-three genera. One species was not classified up to genus level. Two species, Tmethypocoelis sp. and Ozius sp. still need further study in order to classify them up to the species level. Each species is described morphologically including their habitats, locality, economic importance and distribution patterns. Family Portunidae has the greatest number of collected species that comprise the 35.14% (thirteen species) of the total number of species amassed. Family Ocypodidae and Grapsidae each have 18.91% with seven species. Family Mennipidae has 10.81% (four species). Family Calappidae and each constitutes 5.41% (two species) of the total number of species collected. The least number of brachyurans amassed is found to be the Family Pilumnidae and Gecarcinidae each with 2.70% (one species). Among the collecting sites, Sariaya, Quezon has the highest number of brachyurans (25 species) while the lowest number is found in Orion, Bataan (16 species). About 43.24% (sixteen species) of crabs collected are consumed by the local residents. About 18.92% (seven species) are already commercially available in the market, only 5.41% (two species) are considered poisonous and 32.43% (twelve species) functions only as part of the food chain for the natural balance of nature