Zootaxa: a New Species of Ptychognathus Stimpson, 1858, (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Zootaxa: a New Species of Ptychognathus Stimpson, 1858, (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae)

Zootaxa 1260: 57–66 (2006) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ ZOOTAXA 1260 Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A new species of Ptychognathus Stimpson, 1858 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan MASAYUKI OSAWA 1 & NGANKEE NG 2 1Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Sen- baru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan. 2Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119260, Republic of Singapore. Abstract A new varunid crab, Ptychognathus insolitus, is described from Izena Island, the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. This new species is unique among congeners in having a very broad carapace, long and slender ambulatory legs, and stout male first gonopods. Although these characters are diagnostic to Orcovita Ng & Tomascik, 1994, the new species belongs to Ptychognathus Stimpson, 1858 based on the lack of a distinct frontal median triangle on the carapace and the short dactyli of the fifth pereopods. Key words: Crustacea, Brachyura, Varunidae, Ptychognathus, new species, Ryukyu Islands, Japan Introduction The genus Ptychognathus Stimpson, 1858 contains about 20 species from the Indo-West Pacific region (Tesch 1918, Sakai 1976, Takeda 1984, Cai & Ng 2001). The crabs are known to usually inhabit under stones or interspaces of pebbles along mouths of rivers or in seashores influenced by flows of fresh water. As pointed out by Komai et al. (2004), the taxonomy of Ptychognathus is still in need of considerably study. Ten species were recorded from the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan, by Nakasone & Irei (2003): P. affinis de Man, 1895, P. altimanus (Rathbun, 1914b), P. barbatus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1873), P. capillidigitatus Takeda, 1984, P. glaber Stimpson, 1858, P. hachijyonensis Sakai, 1955, P. ishii Sakai, 1939, P. johannae Rathbun, 1914a, P. pusillus Heller, 1865, and P. takahashii Sakai, 1939. There are still four undescribed species from Okinawa Island in the Ryukyus (Nakasone & Irei, 2003). Accepted by P. Castro: 15 Jun 2006; published: 14 Jul. 2006 57.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Download Download
Italian Journal of Food Safety 2020; volume 9:8774 Risks and critical issues related Chinese Mitten Crab. The presence of E. to the discovery on the market sinensis in Europe is reported since the early Correspondence: Federica Maria Sessa, Food 1900s plausibly due to the accidental Chain studio associato, via G. Guinizzelli 24, of unauthorized live alien species introduction of zoea larval stages through 50133, Firenze (FI), Italy. on the Italian territory: Chinese ballast waters (Bentley, 2011; Hopkins, Tel: +39 3495456481. E-mail: [email protected] crab (Eriocheir sinensis) 2001). The first survey was recorded in Germany in 1912, in the Aller river near the Key words: Eriocheir sinensis; Chinese city of Rethem and in 1914 in the Elbe river Federica Maria Sessa,1 Luca Cianti,2 Mitten Crab; invasive species; official control; (Hymanson et al., 1999). More recently, risks and critical issues. Nicola Brogelli,1 Lara Tinacci,3 3 alternatives routes for the introduction of the Alessandra Guidi species within the European borders has Contributions: The authors contributed equally. 1Food Chain Studio associato, Firenze; been hypothesized as consequence of its Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no 2Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Firenze; import for food purpose generally related to conflict of interest. 3Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Asian cuisine specialties (Robbins, et al., Università di Pisa, Italy 2003). Funding: none. Indeed, in East and South-East Asia E. sinensis is recognized as one of the most Received for publication: 18 December 2019. commercially valuable crabs and it is Revision received: 6 March 2020. Abstract presented on the market in various forms Accepted for publication: 30 March 2020.
[Show full text]
Burrowing Activity of the Neohelice Granulata Crab (Brachyura, Varunidae) in Southwest Atlantic Intertidal Areas
Ciencias Marinas (2018), 44(3): 155–167 http://dx.doi.org/10.7773/cm.v44i3.2851 Burrowing activity of the Neohelice granulata crab (Brachyura, Varunidae) in southwest Atlantic intertidal areas Actividad cavadora del cangrejo Neohelice granulata (Brachyura, Varunidae) en sitios intermareales del atlántico sudoccidental Sabrina Angeletti1*, Patricia M Cervellini1, Leticia Lescano2,3 1 Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional del Sur (CONICET-UNS), San Juan 670, 8000-Bahía Blanca, Argentina. 2 Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, 8000-Bahía Blanca, Argentina. 3 Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Calle 526 entre 10 y 11, 1900-La Plata, Argentina. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] A. The burrowing and semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata actively and constantly builds its burrows in the intertidal zone of the Bahía Blanca Estuary during low tide. Differences in structural morphology of N. granulata burrows and burrowing activities in contrasting microhabitats (saltmarsh and mudflat) were analyzed and related to several conditions, such as tide level, substrate type, sediment properties, and population density. In the mudflat the higher density of total burrows in autumn (172 burrows·m–2) was associated with molt timing, and the higher density of active burrows in summer (144 burrows·m–2) was associated with reproductive migration. Sediments from biogenic mounds (removed by crabs) showed higher water content and penetrability than surface sediments (control), suggesting that bioturbation increases the values of these parameters. Grain size distribution profiles and mineralogical composition did not vary between microhabitats or between seasons.
[Show full text]
First Record of the Invasive Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir Sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from Singapore
BioInvasions Records (2013) Volume 2, Issue 1: 73–78 Open Access doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/bir.2013.2.1.13 © 2013 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2013 REABIC Short Communication First record of the invasive Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from Singapore Bi Wei Low, Ngan Kee Ng and Darren C. J. Yeo* Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543 E-mail: [email protected] (BWL), [email protected] (NKN), [email protected] (DCJY) *Corresponding author Received: 28 May 2012 / Accepted: 7 November 2012 / Published online: 14 November 2012 Handling editor: Vadim Panov Abstract The introduced Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, considered amongst ‘100 of the world’s most invasive alien species’, has been well-documented in Europe and North America. Most recently, it was recorded in subtropical western Asia (northern Iran). Here, we report E. sinensis from Singapore; the first record of this species in the wild from the tropics. While the likelihood of establishment of this temperate species in the tropics is low, potentially high and sustained propagule pressure could still allow it to pose a potential threat to native ecosystems and biota, a scenario with precedence in Singapore. Efforts by regulatory agencies are urgently needed to monitor and prevent the introduction of this potential invasive alien species. Key words: Crustacea; Brachyura; Chinese mitten crab; Eriocheir sinensis; invasive alien species; tropics; Singapore Introduction 2005), interference with commercial fishing (Veldhuizen 2001), predation on native species The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H.
[Show full text]
Long-Term Change in the Parasite Burden of Shore Crabs
Long-term change in the parasite burden royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb of shore crabs (Hemigrapsus oregonensis and Hemigrapsus nudus) on the northwestern Pacific coast of North Research America Cite this article: Quinn J, Lee S, Greeley D, Gehman A, Kuris AM, Wood CL. 2021 Long- Jessica Quinn1, Sarah Lee2,3, Duncan Greeley1, Alyssa Gehman4,5, term change in the parasite burden of shore Armand M. Kuris6 and Chelsea L. Wood1 crabs (Hemigrapsus oregonensis and Hemigrapsus nudus) on the northwestern 1School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA 2 Pacific coast of North America. Proc. R. Soc. B Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA 3Department of Biology, Depauw University, Greencastle, IN 46135, USA 288: 20203036. 4Zoology Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6K 1H8 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.3036 5Hakai Institute, End of Kwakshua Channel, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada 6Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA AG, 0000-0003-0595-9950; CLW, 0000-0003-2738-3139 Received: 11 December 2020 Accepted: 28 January 2021 The abundances of free-living species have changed dramatically in recent decades, but little is known about change in the abundance of parasitic species. We investigated whether populations of several parasites have shifted over time in two shore crab hosts, Hemigrapsus oregonensis and Hemigrapsus nudus, by comparing the prevalence and abundance of three Subject Category: parasite taxa in a historical dataset (1969–1970) to contemporary parasite Global change and conservation abundance (2018–2020) for hosts collected from 11 intertidal sites located from Oregon, USA, to British Columbia, Canada.
[Show full text]
First Records of Eriocheir Sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) for Chesapeake Bay and the Mid-Atlantic Coast of North America
Aquatic Invasions (2006) Volume 1, Issue 3: 137-142 DOI 10.3391/ai.2006.1.3.7 © 2006 The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2006 REABIC (http://www.reabic.net) This is an Open Access article Research article First records of Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) for Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic coast of North America Gregory M. Ruiz1*, Lynn Fegley2, Paul Fofonoff1, Yongxu Cheng3 and Rafael Lemaitre4 1Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland 21037 USA Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] 2Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 USA Email: [email protected] 3Shanghai Fisheries University, Shanghai 200090, China Email: [email protected] 4Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC 20560 USA Email: [email protected] *Corresponding author Received 6 September 2006; accepted in revised form 11 September 2006 Abstract We report here the first Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, found in the Chesapeake Bay, USA. Two male specimens were caught, retained, and identified from the mouth of the Patapsco River, near Baltimore, Maryland. The first crab to be reported was captured on 9 June 2006. Surprisingly, the second reported crab was captured at least one year earlier, probably in May 2005. Another two specimens of E. sinensis were reported up to 90km south of this location in April- June 2006, but the identity of these latter crabs could not be confirmed, because the specimens were not kept. Environmental conditions in Chesapeake Bay appear suitable for colonization by E. sinensis, and it is presently not known whether mitten crabs are reproducing or established in the region.
[Show full text]
First Record of the Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir Sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from Lake Ladoga, Russia
Aquatic Invasions (2006) Volume 1, Issue 1: 28-31 DOI 10.3391/ai.2006.1.1.6 © 2006 The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2006 REABIC (http://www.reabic.net) This is an Open Access article Research article First record of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from Lake Ladoga, Russia Vadim E. Panov Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation Present address: St. Petersburg State University, 10 linia VO, 33/35, 199178 St.Petersburg, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Received 21 November 2005; accepted in revised form 23 December 2005 Abstract A special survey has been conducted to record the distribution of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis in the eastern Gulf of Finland basin (Baltic Sea). An illustrated questionnaire/registration form was distributed among the commercial fishermen. The survey indicated a significant increase in the abundance of adult crabs in 2003 migrating downstream in the Neva River, the connecting channel between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga. On October 25, 2005, the Chinese mitten crab was reported from Taypolovsky Bay, Lake Ladoga and this is the first confirmed record from Europe’s largest lake. Key words: invasive crustaceans, Eriocheir sinensis, first record, Lake Ladoga, Baltic Sea Introduction (2004). Lake Ladoga, the largest European lake, is connected with the eastern Gulf of Finland via The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis H. the Neva River and Neva Bay (easternmost part Milne-Edwards 1853 (for date of authority and of the Gulf of Finland) (Figure 1), but to date taxonomy see Clark 2006) was first recorded there have been no confirmed records of from the Aller River, Germany, Europe in 1912, E.
[Show full text]
A Review of the Genus Eriocheir De Haan, 1835 and Related Genera, with the Description of a New Genus and a New Species (Brachyura, Grapsoidea, Varunidae)
Crustaceana 86 (9) 1103-1138 A REVIEW OF THE GENUS ERIOCHEIR DE HAAN, 1835 AND RELATED GENERA, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND A NEW SPECIES (BRACHYURA, GRAPSOIDEA, VARUNIDAE) BY KATSUSHI SAKAI1) Shikoku University, Tokushima 771-1192, Japan ABSTRACT Mitten crabs (Brachyura, Varunidae, Varuninae) are currently classiﬁed into six species belonging to three genera: Eriocheir De Haan, 1835, Neoeriocheir T. Sakai, 1983, and Platyeriocheir Ng, Guo & Ng, 1999, i.e., Eriocheir japonica (De Haan, 1835), E. hepuensis Dai, 1991, E. ogasawaraensis Komai, Yamasaki, Kobayashi, Yamamoto & Watanabe, 2006, and E. sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853; Neoeriocheir leptognatha (Rathbun, 1913); and Platyeriocheir formosa (Chan, Hung & Yu, 1995). The results of the present study, however, indicate a reclassiﬁcation into four genera including one new genus, together lodging seven species, including one new species, and with an eighth currently nameless species remaining as a species inquirenda, as follows: Eriocheir De Haan, 1835, with E. japonica (De Haan, 1835) and E. ogasawaraensis Komai et al., 2006; Paraeriocheir gen. nov., with P. hepuensis (Dai, 1991) and P. sinensis (H. Milne Edwards, 1853); Platyeriocheir Ng et al., 1999, with P. f o r m o s a (Chan et al., 1995) and P. guangdonga sp. nov.; and Neoeriocheir T. Sakai, 1983, with N. leptognatha (Rathbun, 1913); under the prevailing circumstances, the species now indicated as Eriocheir sp. [= Eriocheir recta sensu Stimpson, 1858] is to be considered a species inquirenda. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Wollhandkrabben (Brachyura, Varunidae, Varuninae) werden gegenwärtig in sechs Arten untergeteilt, die den folgenden drei Gattungen angehören: Eriocheir De Haan, 1835, Neoeriocheir T. Sakai, 1983 und Platyeriocheir Ng, Guo & Ng, 1999.
[Show full text]
Hemigrapsus Oregonensis Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Section: Brachyura a Hairy Shore Crab Family: Varunidae
Phylum: Arthropoda, Crustacea Hemigrapsus oregonensis Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Section: Brachyura A hairy shore crab Family: Varunidae Taxonomy: The brachyuran family and associated appendages are reduced and Grapsidae, the shore crabs, was a very large folded ventrally (Decapoda, Kuris et al. 2007). family with several subfamilies and little Cephalothorax: taxonomic scrutiny, until recently. Based on Eyes: Eyestalks and orbits molecular and morphological evidence, moderately sized (Rathbun 1918) and eyes at authors (von Sternberg and Cumberlidge antero-lateral angle (Fig. 2). 2000; Schubart et al. 2000; de Grave et al. Antennae: 2009; Schubart 2011) elevated all grapsid Mouthparts: The mouth of decapod subfamilies to family level, reducing the crustaceans comprises six pairs of number of species formally within the appendages including one pair of mandibles Grapsidae. Recent molecular evidence has (on either side of the mouth), two pairs of placed Hemigrapsus species within the maxillae and three pairs of maxillipeds. The Varunidae, but this is currently debated where maxillae and maxillipeds attach posterior to some authors still refer to them as members the mouth and extend to cover the mandibles of the Grapsidae sensu lato (Ng et al. 2008; (Ruppert et al. 2004). Wicksten 2012) and others have adopted the Carapace: Rectangular or square in new familial designation (e.g. Kuris et al. shape and wider than long with rounded 2007). Besides the higher taxonomic antero-lateral margins. Carapace surface is classifications, the known specific synonym smooth and bears three teeth (two lateral that for H. oregonensis is Pseudograpsus are posterior to postorbital) (Wicksten 2012) oregonensis (Wicksten 2012), which is not on antero-lateral margin, no transverse lines currently used.
[Show full text]
Invasion Biology of the Asian Shore Crab Hemigrapsus Sanguineus: a Review
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 441 (2013) 33–49 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jembe Invasion biology of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus: A review Charles E. Epifanio ⁎ School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958, USA article info abstract Article history: The Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, is native to coastal and estuarine habitat along the east coast of Received 19 October 2012 Asia. The species was ﬁrst observed in North America near Delaware Bay (39°N, 75°W) in 1988, and a variety Received in revised form 8 January 2013 of evidence suggests initial introduction via ballast water early in that decade. The crab spread rapidly after its Accepted 9 January 2013 discovery, and breeding populations currently extend from North Carolina to Maine (35°–45°N). H. sanguineus Available online 9 February 2013 is now the dominant crab in rocky intertidal habitat along much of the northeast coast of the USA and has displaced resident crab species throughout this region. The Asian shore crab also occurs on the Atlantic coast Keywords: ﬁ Asian shore crab of Europe and was rst reported from Le Havre, France (49°N, 0°E) in 1999. Invasive populations now extend Bioinvasion along 1000 km of coastline from the Cotentin Peninsula in France to Lower Saxony in Germany (48°– Europe 53°N). Success of the Asian shore crab in alien habitats has been ascribed to factors such as high fecundity, Hemigrapsus sanguineus superior competition for space and food, release from parasitism, and direct predation on co-occurring crab North America species.
[Show full text]
The East Asian Shore Crab Hemigrapsus Sanguineus (Brachyura: Varunidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: an Independent Human-Mediated Introduction*
SCI. MAR., 67 (2): 195-200 SCIENTIA MARINA 2003 The East Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Brachyura: Varunidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: an independent human-mediated introduction* CHRISTOPH D. SCHUBART Fakultät für Biologie I: Zoologie, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] SUMMARY. A single adult male specimen of the East Asian crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus (de Haan, 1835) was collected in August 2001 in the northern Adriatic Sea along the northwest coast of the peninsula of Istra. This is the first record of this genus and species from the Mediterranean Sea. Previously, Hemigrapsus sanguineus had been reported to invade the Atlantic coasts of North America and of western France, while the congeneric East Asian species, Hemigrapsus penicilla- tus (de Haan, 1835), has established breeding populations along the Atlantic coast of Europe. The current absence of Hem- igrapsus sanguineus in southern Europe and the western Mediterranean suggests an independent human-mediated intro- duction of the Croatian specimen. Preliminary genetic analyses reveal that specimens from Istra, North America, and Japan have identical DNA haplotypes corresponding to the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene (16S mtDNA), while the homologous sequence from a specimen of Taiwan differs in two out of 525 nucleotides. Key words: Crustacea, human-mediated introduction, invasion, Adriatic Sea, Istra. RESUMEN: EL CANGREJO LITORAL DEL ESTE ASIÁTICO HEMIGRAPSUS SANGUINEUS (BRACHYURA: VARUNIDAE) EN EL MAR MEDITERRÁNEO: UNA INTRODUCCIÓN HUMANA INDEPENDIENTE.– Un ejemplar macho adulto del cangrejo del este Asiático Hemigrapsus sanguineus (de Haan, 1835) fue recolectado en agosto de 2001 en el norte del Mar Adriático en la costa noroeste de la península de Ístria.
[Show full text]
Hemigrapsus Nudus Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Section: Brachyura the Purple Shore Crab Family: Varunidae
Phylum: Arthropoda, Crustacea Hemigrapsus nudus Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Section: Brachyura The purple shore crab Family: Varunidae Taxonomy: The brachyuran family Cephalothorax: Grapsidae, the shore crabs, was a very large Eyes: Eyestalks and eyes of family with several subfamilies and little moderate size with eyes that are at antero- taxonomic scrutiny, until recently. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, lateral angles (Fig. 2). Grapsid species authors (von Sternberg and Cumberlidge apparently have keen vision (Wicksten 2011). 2000; Schubart et al. 2000; de Grave et al. Antennae: 2009; Schubart 2011) elevated all grapsid Mouthparts: The mouth of decapod subfamilies to family level, reducing the crustaceans comprises six pairs of number of species formally within the appendages including one pair of mandibles Grapsidae. Recent molecular evidence has (on either side of the mouth), two pairs of placed Hemigrapsus species within the maxillae and three pairs of maxillipeds. The Varunidae, but this is currently debated and maxillae and maxillipeds attach posterior to some authors still refer to them as members the mouth and extend to cover the mandibles of the Grapsidae sensu lato (Ng et al. 2008; (Ruppert et al. 2004). Wicksten 2011) and others have adopted the Carapace: Flat, smooth, punctate new familial designation (e.g. Kuris et al. (Schmitt 1921) and bears three teeth (two 2007). Besides the higher taxonomic lateral that are posterior to postorbital) classifications, the known specific synonym (Wicksten 2011). Square in shape, with for H. nudus is Pseudograpsus nudus rounded antero-lateral margins (Rathbun (Wicksten 2011), which is not currently used. 1918) and no transverse lines (compare to P.
[Show full text]
The Occurrence of Eriocheir Sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from the Caspian Sea Region, Iran
Aquatic Invasions (2006) Volume 1, Issue 1: 32-34 DOI 10.3391/ai.2006.1.1.7 © 2006 The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2006 REABIC (http://www.reabic.net) This is an Open Access article Research article The occurrence of Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from the Caspian Sea region, Iran 1 2 3 4 Roni S. Robbins , Mehiar Sakari , S. Nezami Baluchi and Paul F. Clark 1, 4Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England E-mail: [email protected] ; [email protected] 2Department of the Environment, Guilan Provincial Office, Resalat Blvd., Rasht, Iran E-mail: [email protected] 3Faculty of Fisheries, Lahijan Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran E-mail: [email protected] Received 17 January 2006; accepted in revised form 23 January 2006 Abstract Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 has been introduced and established mainly in North East Europe and San Francisco Bay, United States from native China. This note records the first specimen of the Chinese mitten crab from the River Tazeh Bekandeh, Caspian Sea collected on 26 October 2002. Key words: Eriocheir sinensis, Iran, Caspian Sea basin Portugal and this is the most southerly European Introduction record for E. sinensis to date. But further towards the eastern boundaries of Europe, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 was populations of mitten crab appear to have beco- introduced into Germany in 1912 (Panning 1939) me established in the Black Sea (Zaitsev and from China by ships’ ballast water and has Öztürk 2001), and the Sea of Azov (Murina and spread subsequently throughout northern Europe.
[Show full text]