Fauna Discription
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Crabs Crabs are mainly exported however there is also a negligible local consumption. They are essential in recycling nutrients and increasing the plant rate of decay.
Brachyuran Form a majority amongst the macro-fauna.
Grapsidae Assortment of crabs belonging to the sub-family Sesarminae. Dominant in the mangroves
Ocypodid Genera associated with the mangroves include Uca, Comptandrium and numerous species of Macrophthalmas, Cliestocoeloma and Serenella
Xanthids Conspicuous family of crabs on tropical shores, however only a few have adapted to the mangrove environment. These are Euyrcarcinus orientalis and Heteropanope glabra
Scylla serrata Known as sand crabs, belonging to the family Portunidae, they hide under the root cover or the holes of trunks of the trees.
Leptostracan These interesting species of crustaceans were collected for the first time from the Arabian Sea in the 1980s
Anomuran Clibanarius padavensis and Diogenas avarus are the two species of Hermit Crabs collected.
Prawns Prawns use the mangrove swamps as a short-term habitat, particularly for spawning, nursery and shelter. In many areas prawn quantities have been known to deplete with the reduction in mangrove cover.
Penaeus and Metapenaeus These have been collected from shallow pools of water around the mangroves
Alpheids Species Alpheus inopinatus and Salamoneus brevirostris have been collected. Alpheids use the mud for burrowing as well as the water for shelter.

Source: Mangroves of Pakistan 1983 – (Crustacean Fauna of Mangroves of Karachi Coast – Nasima M. Tirmizi, Quddusi B. Kazmi and Nasim Ghani, Marine Reference Collection Centre, Karachi University)


Varieties of molluscs

Molluscs

Discription

Gastropods

Trochidae (Top Shells)

Euchelus indicus: Conical and top shaped shell, with a pearly inner surface. They are usually found on rocky shores.

Turbinidae (Turban Shells)

Turbo coronatus: Solid shells with rounded whorls. Rare in mangrove areas, they have been found in the mangroves off the Karachi coast.

Nertiidae

Nerita albicilla: Thick shells with spires.

Nerita birmanica: Have been found in Rhizophora forests usually clinging to the trunks and roots of the plant

Littorinadae

Littorina melanostoma: rare species and has been collected only once.

Turritellidae ( Screw Shells)

Turritella; long and tubular shells with a circular aperture. Uncommon in the mangrove area they live in loose sand.

Potamididae

Potamides cingulatus: these scavengers are found abundantly in the Karachi mangroves. The shell is smalla nd elongated. Theya re slo used in the production of lime for white washing.

Telescopium telescopium: This mud-dweller is found abundantly at places like Keti Bandar, off the coast of Karachi. Have a large shell and is edible.

Naticidae

Natica and Notochlis tigrina: Sand burrowers with globular shells. The shell spires are short. Predate on oysters.

Bursidae

Bursa rana: Thick, flattened and short spiral shell. Rare and not reported in other mangrove areas.

Thaididae

Thais carnifera: These predators are usually found attached to stones.

T. tissoti: is also assumed to occur near the lower trunk and roots of Rhizophora

Buccinadae ( Whelks)

Babylonia spirata: Oval and large shells. White with orange spots. Seek shelter and live in sandy mud. Not recorded to be found in mangrove environment before.

Opisthobranchs: Two-shelled opisthobranchs, Pupa (species Acteonidae) and Bulla (species Bullidae) have been identified. Genus Pupa has not been recorded anywhere before.

Bivalves

Anomiidae

Anomia and Monia umbonata: Small in size, with thin, fragile and iridescent shells, these are mostly found attached to oysters.

Placuna placenta: Commonly known as windowpane oyster, they have hard and large shells. Inhabitants of muddy soil

Ostreidae

Three species have been found. C. glomerata and C. rivularis belong to the genus Crassostrae. The third one is Saccostrea tuberculata. C. glomerata is the mud oyster and is more abundant of the three and is the smallest in size.

Tellinidae

Tellinae alternata, Acopagia (Merisca) diaphana and Sletellina diphos: Thin and papery shells. Live in deep mud and feed with the aid of long siphons.

Veneridae (Clams)

Dosinia (Dosinella) penicellata and Mercenaria stimposoni: Mud burrowers M. stimposoni is more abundant. Also known to occur outside the mangrove area. Also posses long siphons.
Source: Mangroves of Pakistan – Nasima M. Tirmizi and Sohail Barkat – (Marine Invertebrate Reference Collection Centre, Karachi Univ.)
  

Most of these fish are attracted to the swamps during high tide, mainly due to the abundance of food.

Order

No of Species

Clupeiformes 15
Scopeliformes 4
Cyprniformes 6
Anguilliformes 2
Perciformes 46
Beloniformes 3
Syngnathiformes 5
Mugiliformes 6
Polynemiformes 4
Pleuronectiformes 6
Batrachoidiformes 1

Source: Mangroves of Pakistan (Vetebrate fauna of the Mangrove Swamps-Mohammad Farooq Ahmad)
 
Reptiles

Lizards

Description

Sindh Sand Gecko

(Stenodactylus orientalis)

Found on the coast close to high water.

Afghan Sand Swimmer

Ophiomorus tridactylus

Occur on beaches where vegetation is found

Indian Fringe-toed Sand lizard

(Acanthodactylus cantoris cantoris)

Common on the coast

Snakes

14 species of sea snakes are found in the coastal waters. Out of these, the following have been collected from the mangrove area.

Annulated sea snake

9Hydrophis cyanocinctus)

Observed in the mangroves during the monsoon season

Many-toothed sea snake

(H. caerulescens)

.

Beaked sea snake

(H. mamillaris)and (Enhydrina schistosa)

.

Common small-headed sea snake

(Microcephalophis gracilis gracilis)

.

Pelagic sea snake

(Pelamis platurus)

Hunt crabs into even into their holes.
 
 

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