Presence of mangrove vegetation that provides a habitat structure and food for mangrove crabs is another factor determining their distributionAtshton et al showed that the crab community structure was correlated with the tree and seedling community structure indicating their importance in supporting crab diversity or vice versa. Some sesarmid. Floral zonation in Kadolkele mangrove is closely associated with the zonation pattern described by boaden and seed in East Africa. In the present study it is evident that floral zonation has an influence on the spread of crab species . M. thukuhar and unidentified juvenile crabs were found restricted to Rhizophora/bruguiera zone, while E. vesicolor and S. guttatum were confined to the Avcennia/Lumnitzera zone . Metopograpsus messor and S. smithii on the other hand could inhabit both zones.