Behavioural ecology and heat response of the mangrove crabs ( Uca spp. )‎ at madia creek near Jizan city, Saudi Arabia

الملخص EN

The distribution and behavioural ecology of Uca inversa in-versa, u.

Lactea annupiles and u.

vocans hesperae in relation to sea level changes, relative humidity, ambient temperature and tidal fluctuations was studied at Madia beaeh on the east coast of the Red Sea.

Crabs are usually active close to their burrows after the tide recede and during day-time.

Thermal conditions within the burrows are more stable and much lower than those outside.

Body temperatures were regulated in part by a burrow-retreat strategy.

The temperature tolerance of Uca inversa inversa was studied experimentally between 39°c and 43°c survival period varied bet-ween ت minutes at 43°c and 250 minutes at 39°c.