The mangrove enriched estuarine rivers, creeks and canals of the Sundarbans provide a congenialhabitat for the mud crab, Scylla serrata. A good number of crab fishers are engaged in the trade of.capturing crabs from the wilderness throughout the year with their indigenous trapping devices. The present paper aims to highlight some aspects of their biology with special reference to sex dimorphism, morphometrics and habitat ecology. The efficacy of the different trapping systems are examined. 'Ibe cultural prospects of this crab in the Sundarbans are also discussed.

scylla serrata, biology, ecology, collection methods