Decapod crustaceans of the Delaware Bay area

Summary

Based on samples from 1968 to 1976 with a variety of collecting gear, 37 species belonging to 18 families of decapod crustaceans are reported from the Delaware Bay area. The species are divided into four major groups based on life habit and/or habitat (nektonic, benthic, commensal, and semi-terrestrial) and their distribution, relative abundance, and general ecology are described. It is concluded that the decapod crustaceans have closer affinities with taxa from the cool end of the Virginian province. Moreover, it is also concluded that our list is a conservative number of species because most collecting was conducted with grabs as dredge hauls which were primarily restricted to river oyster beds.