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Morphological Identity of Spider Crabs Genus Prismatopus Ward, 1933 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majidae) from the Eastern Gulf Of

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Morphological Identity of Spider Crabs Genus Prismatopus Ward, 1933 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majidae) from the Eastern Gulf Of Morphological Identity of Spider crabs Genus Prismatopus Ward, 1933 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majidae) from the Eastern Gulf of Thailand Kamonchanok Wongissarakul1 and Pattanee Jantrarotai1 1 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Phaholyothin road. Ladyao Jatujak Bangkok 10900 Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The identification of spider crabs were examined in genus Prismatopus Ward, 1933, and were recognized based on morphological characters. Specimens were collected in fishery villages from 7 collecting sites covering four provinces (Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat) in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand, during September 2013 to January 2014. Results of this study can be identified spider crab into two species, P. aculeatus (H. Milne Edward, 1834) and P. halimoides (Miers, 1879). They were separated by species-specific characters on their shape, number, position of carapace spines and the first pair of male gonopod structure. The specific characters were illustrated and their description were provided. This research will be useful for further identification of spider crab genus Prismatopus in Thailand. Keywords: Morphological identity, Spider crabs, Prismatopus, Majidae, Eastern Gulf of Thailand Introduction The spider crabs genus Prismatopus Ward, 1933 classified in family Majidae, and widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific region (Griffin, 1966). They are well known as decorator crabs because their behavior of attaching materials from environment to hook setae on their carapace (Gary, 2004). They play an important ecological role in a scavenger (Dai and Yang, 1991). Represently, this genus were recognized with 12 species in the world (Ng et al., 2008). However, Naiyanetr (2007) reported 4 species in The Checklist of Crustacean Fauna in Thailand including Chlorinoides aculeatus (H. Milne Edward, 1834) (=P. aculeatus), C. longispinus (De Haan, 1850) (=P. longispinus), Thacanophrys albanyensis (Ward, 1933) (=P. albanyensis) and Thacanophrys halimoides (Miers, 1879) (=P. halimoides). For the Thai species, the taxonomy of this genus is confused and misunderstanding with many synonyms. Furthermore, we have a few description, and their classification are outdated (Naiyanetr, 2007). The purposes of this study are provide to the species- specific characters, and the updated description for the spider crabs genus Prismatopus in Eastern Gulf of Thailand. The result from this study will be useful to identify the spider crab genus Prismatopus in the future. 297 10-ǰöĉëčîć÷îǰ Öćøðøąßčöüĉì÷ćýćÿêøŤìćÜìąđúǰÙøĆĚÜìĊęǰ Materials and Methods Specimens collection Specimens of spider crab genus Prismatopus were live-caught from fishery villages covering 7 collecting sites in 4 provinces, throughtout Eastern Gulf of Thailand during September 2013 to January 2014 (Fig. 1A). The collecting sites as follow: Chon Buri, Na Kluea (12°57’26N, 100°53’01E) and Bang Lamung (12°55’30N, 100°52’06E); Rayong, Suanson (12°40’09N, 101°28’18E), Baan Phe1 (12°37’09N, 101°25’36E) and Baan Phe2 (12°36’35N, 101°25’27E); Chanthaburi, Hat Chao Lao (12°32’11N, 101°55’43E) and Trat, Lam Ngob (12°10’08N, 102°23’55E). All specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and deposited in the Crustacean Collection, Zoological Museum, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science. Kasetsart University (ZMKUcru). a. b. Figure 1. Collecting sites (a.) and the measurement (b.) use in this study. Taxonomy and Morphological study Taxonomic identification of spider crab was carried out following to Serene (1969) and Griffin and Tranter (1986). The morphological terms were used in this study according to Rathbun (1925), Griffin (1966) and Dai and Yang (1991). Specimens were measured in millimeters using digital vernier caliper. The measurement are as followed; Total carapace length (TCL), taken from the right tip of rostrum (if damage using the left side) along median spine to posterior margin (excluding intestinal spine); Postrostral carapace length (PCL), taken from base of rostrum (divergent point) along median spine to posterior margin (excluding intestinal spine); Carapace width (CW), the widest part of carapace) (Fig. 1B). For the qualitative characters, the shape of carapace, gonopod structure, the number and position of carapace spines, region on dorsal and ventral surface of carapace, the character of cheliped and ambulatory leg are investigated. èǰýĎî÷ŤðøąßčöîćîćßćêĉÞúĂÜÿĉøĉøćßÿöïĆêĉÙøïǰǰðŘ 298 öĀćüĉì÷ćúĆ÷ÿÜ×úćîÙøĉîìø Ť Figure 2. Illustrate of dorsal surface and carapace region (a); ventral view (b); outer view of cheliped (c); inner view of chela (d); ambulatory leg (e). 299 10-ǰöĉëčîć÷îǰ Öćøðøąßčöüĉì÷ćýćÿêøŤìćÜìąđúǰÙøĆĚÜìĊęǰ Results Total 57 specimens were obtained in two collecting sites only at Chon Buri province. All specimens can be identified into two species that are P. aculeatus (H. Milne Edward, 1834) and P. halimoides (Miers, 1879). The description of each species are as follow: Prismatopus aculeatus (H. Milne Edward, 1834) (Figs. 3a-f, 5a,c,e,f,i,k) Paramithrax (Chlorinoides) aculeatus Alcock, 1895: 241-242. Chlorinoides aculeatus Griffin, 1974: 7. Dai & Yang 1991: 155, Pl.19 fig.79. Naiyanetr, 2007: 73 Thacanophrys aculeatus Griffin & Tranter, 1986: 254 fig. 93d-e. Material examined Chon Buri: Na Kluea, 1 male 1 female (ZMKUcru000008), coll. K. Wongissarakul, 10 Jan. 2014. Bang Lamung, 9 males 4 females (ZMKUcru000007), coll. K. Wongissarakul, 1 Sep. 2013. Diagnosis Two long acute spines directed to outside and backside at the branchial region (Fig. 3a). Preorbital spine and antorbital spine (Fig. 3b) are not expand as lamellate lobe. Preorbital spine longer than antorbital spine and outwardly directedǰ Male telson (Fig. 5i) obtusely triangular and female abdomen (Fig. 5k) oval. The first male gonopod (Fig. 5c,e,f) curved, tapering with triangular distally tip, vary in size of hairs on surface and presence upwardly spine on margin. Description Range of male measurements are TCL 40.51-64.01 mm., PCL 29.86-45.97 mm. and CW 21.51- 32.96 mm., in female measurements are TCL 37.42-51.19 mm., PCL 28.33-37.63 mm. and CW 20.50- 27.43 mm.) Carapace pyriform (Fig. 3a) (Postrostral length about 1.3 times Carapace width), convex, with five spines on middle line (Fig. 3f) which two acute spines on gastric region, single acute spine on cardiac region and two spines on intestinal region; anterior-one shorter than posterior one which on the posterior margin directed backward and slightly to top distally. Branchial region (Fig. 3a) with two long acute spines directed to outside and backside. Rostrum extremely divergent and outwardly curved. The Preorbital and Antorbital lobes (Fig. 3b): resemble spine, not expand as lamellate lobe. Preorbital spine longer than antorbital spine and outwardly directed. Intercalated spine shorter and separated from pre-antorbital lobe by deep fissure but separate from postorbital lobe by narrowly fissure. Postorbital lobe expand basally as trigonal. Hepatic region (Fig. 3c) with strong lobe which bifid in distal and two blunt tubercles visible in ventral and lateral view. Hepatic margin with a small tubercle. Basal antennal (Fig. 3d): article longer than board, flattened, curve in external angle. The external angle (arrow) are spiniform, internal angle produced into shape of spine but blunt in distal. Male cheliped (Fig. 3e): enlarged palm, fingers slender with small blunt teeth. Carpus with sharp curl, with a shallow ridge in inner view. Merus with four sharply cristate in dorsal boarder, decreasing in size to the ischium. Female cheliped same in characteristics but smaller in size. Ambulatory legs (Fig. 3a): long and slender, length decreasing from first to fourth pair. Carpus èǰýĎî÷ŤðøąßčöîćîćßćêĉÞúĂÜÿĉøĉøćßÿöïĆêĉÙøïǰǰðŘ 300 öĀćüĉì÷ćúĆ÷ÿÜ×úćîÙøĉîìø Ť with single spine on distal end of upper boarder only the first pair. Margin of merus with acute curve spine on distal end, but the last two pairs is reduced in size. Propodus and dactylus with two rows of fine granules in ventral surface. Each segment cylindrical and covered with a hook setae. Abdomen (Fig. 5i,k): elongate, seven segment, male telson obtusely triangular and oval in female. The first male gonopod (Fig. 5c,e,f): Curved tapering with triangular distally tip, vary in size of hairs on surface and presence upwardly spine on margin. Distribution: Chon Buri province. Prismatopus halimoides (Miers, 1879) (Figs. 4a-f, 5b,d,g,h,j,l) Paramithrax halimoides Miers, 1879: 10. Acanthophrys germaini Bouvier, 1906: 487-488. Chlorinoides germaini Serene, 1969: 1-21, Pl.II a-c fig. 2,5,7-10. Chlorinoides halimoides Griffin, 1966: 13 (in key). Thacanophrys halimoides Griffin & Tranter, 1986: 258. Naiyanetr, 2007: 75 Material examine Chon Buri: Na Kluea, 23 male 10 female (ZMKUcru000001), coll. K. Wongissarakul, 1 Sep. 2013. Na Kluea, 2 male 2 female (ZMKUcru000002), coll. K. Wongissarakul, 10 Jan. 2014. Bang Lamung, 7 males 3 females (ZMKUcru000003), coll. K. Wongissarakul, 2 Sep. 2013. Diagnosis A single curve acute spines directed to top distally at the branchial region (Fig. 4a). Preorbital and antorbital spine (Fig. 4b) are subspine, relatively flat and expand as lamellate lobe. Preorbital longer than antorbital spine and upwardly directed. Male telson (Fig. 5j) semicircle and female abdomen (Fig. 5l) round shape. The first male gonopod (Fig. 5d, j, h) swell and taper slightly to the tip, the tip curved like a blunt snout, vary in size of hairs on surface and blunt spine on margin. escription Range of male measurements are TCL 35.24-58.54 mm., PCL 29.24-46.31 mm. and CW 20.40- 33.48 mm., in female measurements are TCL 33.58-45.58 mm., PCL 28.33-36.94 mm. and CW 19.45- 26.73 mm. Carapace pyriform (Fig. 4a) (Postrostral length about 1.4 times Carapace width), convex, with five spines on middle line (Fig. 4f) which two acute spines on gastric region, single acute long spine on cardiac region and two slender long spines on intestinal region; the posterior one which on the posterior margin is flattened, expand in base, directed backward and slightly to top distally. Branchial region (Fig.
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