DISTRIBUTION AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISATION OF Potamon ebonyicum (MUD CRAB) AT PERIURBAN.........

Around the Ebonyi river basin, the population of Potamon ebonyicum was visibly declining at an alarming rate. Verification of habitat and morphometric characterisation of the crab species were required due to an apparent rise in catching efforts due to various economic reasons and other causes of the reduction linked with environmental deterioration. As a result, a population survey and micro habitat verification were carried out throughout the river basin's rural and periurban districts. Existing and novel equipment were used to measure habitat factors. Female and male crab populations differed just little, with 49 percent and 51 percent, respectively. Males were found in greater numbers in the periurban area than in the rural habitat. In the rural environment, however, the female population proportion was higher than the male population percentage, at 59.5 percent and 40.5 percent, respectively. Males in the rural habitat were heavier than females, whereas males in the periurban habitat were heavier than females. Males from the periurban area had carapace widths of 4.2 0.18 cm and 4.20.11 cm, almost identical to females from the rural habitat. Males from rural and periurban habitats had significantly different carapace lengths, 4.80.37 cm and 5.20.23 cm, respectively. The females' carapace lengths were not significantly different from the environments, at 4.00.33 cm and 4.2 0.14 cm, respectively. The two habits' geometric factors were not significantly connected. P. ebonyicum abundance and distribution appeared to be influenced by rapid forest loss and varying catching efforts. The proper implementation of habitat regulation in the river basin could help the environment while also boosting the economy.

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