The aim of the present study was to characterize the composition of Majoidea crabs inhabiting the infralittoral rocky/sandy bottom of Anchieta Island (Ubatuba), from north coast of São Paulo State. Crabs were collected monthly during 1999 and 2000 by using SCUBA and cages. The occurrence of eight species of majoids (Epialtus brasiliensis, Mithraculus forceps, Mithrax braziliensis, Mithrax hispidus, Mithrax tortugae, Pelia rotunda, Pitho lherminieri and Stenorhynchus seticornis) was registered and corresponded to 24.2% of total of majid crabs recorded in the coast of São Paulo State. Mithraculus forceps, Mithrax tortugae and Stenorhynchus seticornis were most abundant in samples and constituted populations that belonged to the brachyuran community of the studied area. The taxocoenosis of the area was dominated by M. forceps (57.62%). The occurrence of Mithrax braziliensis in the present study enlarged its south distribution to the São Paulo State.
Brachyura; majoidea; diversity
