23 Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 8: 23-31 (2015) ISSN: 0973-9505 (Available online at www.tcrjournals.com) Original Article CRUSTACEAN FAUNA OF GUJARAT STATE OF INDIA: A REVIEW TRIVEDI, D. J., TRIVEDI, J. N., SONI, G. M., PUROHIT, B. D. AND VACHHRAJANI, K. D. Marine Biodiversity and Ecology Lab., Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390 002, Gujarat. E. mail: kauresh@gmail.com Received: March 24, 2015; Accepted: April 26, 2015 Abstract: The present work was carried out to review the existing literature available on the crustacean macro fauna of the Gujarat state. Many researchers have studied the marine fauna of Gujarat but amongst them the crustacean fauna is least studies. In the present study, the literature published on the crustacean fauna of Gujarat was collected from various sources like institutes, internet and private depository of researchers. The literature collected was reviewed to prepare a checklist of the crustacean species. Field studies were also carried out in different parts of Gujarat for the collection of crustaceans and the species identification. The taxonomy of the recorded species was revised based on the recent information available on the crustacean fauna. Total 157 species (Isopods 1 species; Amphipods 1 species; Barnacles 2 species; Anomuran crabs 6 species; Brachyuran crabs 113 species; Prawns and Shrimps 30 species; Lobster 3 species and Stomatopods 1 species) belonging to 87 genera and 41 families are so far reported from Gujarat. Maximum diversity of crustacean was reported from Gulf of Kachchh (138 species) followed by Saurashtra coast (75 species) and Gulf of Khambhat (36 species). The checklist of crustacean species and their distribution in different coastal areas of Gujarat is given in the present report. Key words: Crustaceans, Gujarat, checklist, Coastal area. Indexed in: ProQuest database Abstract, USA (ProQuest Science Journals, Health and Medical complete), EBSCO databases (USA), Indian Science Abstract, Medical and Aromatic Plant Abstract, New Delhi ? INTRODUCTION Checklist of faunal and floral species of certain area serves as a starting point for different kind of studies like biodiversity, biogeography, environment monitoring, experimental etc. This kind of data also provides baseline structure in defining the extent of protected areas and preparation of strategies for sustainable development [1]. The information on the species composition of the local area is very much required because extinction of native species or introduction of invasive species can very much affect the condition of ecosystem. The identification and checklist of the local biotic community helps in the proper interpretation of distributions created in the ecosystem by various factors like anthropogenic activities and natural disasters. The list of the species should be accurate and doubtful records of the species