Xanthoidea: Xanthidae, Pilumnidae, Menippidae and Trapeziidae) of Southern Oman
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Tropical Zoology ISSN: 0394-6975 (Print) 1970-9528 (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ttzo20 Brachyuran crabs (Xanthoidea: Xanthidae, Pilumnidae, Menippidae and Trapeziidae) of southern Oman Peter J. Hogarth To cite this article: Peter J. Hogarth (1994) Brachyuran crabs (Xanthoidea: Xanthidae, Pilumnidae, Menippidae and Trapeziidae) of southern Oman, Tropical Zoology, 7:1, 93-108, DOI: 10.1080/03946975.1994.10539244 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.1994.10539244 Published online: 01 Aug 2012. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 440 View related articles Citing articles: 1 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ttzo20 Tropical Zoology 7: 93-108, 1994 Brachyuran crabs (Xanthoidea: Xanthidae, Pilumnidae, Menippidae and Trapeziidae) of southern Oman PETER J. HoGARTH Department of Biology, and Tropical Marine Research Unit, University of York, York YOl 5DD, ·u.K. Received 12 October 1992, accepted 23 April 1993 Thirty-eight species of xanthoid crab are recorded for the first time from Dhofar Province, southern Oman. The geographical range of three species [Nanocassiope alcocki (Rathbun 1902), Actumnus digitalis (Rathbun 1907), and Macromedaeus crassi manus (A. Milne Edwards 1867)] is substantially extended. The pattern of xanthoid species diversity is discussed in relation to the effect of the seasonal monsoon-driven upwelling, and compared with that of other parts of the Western Indian Ocean. KEY WORDS: Brachyura, Xanthidae, Pilumnidae, Menippidae, Trapeziidae, Oman, Western Indian Ocean, biogeography, distribution. Introduction 93 Collecting sites 94 Collections 94 Discussion . 103 Acknowledgements 107 References 107 INTRODUCTION The marine fauna of Dhofar, southern Oman, is poorly known, despite being of considerable biological interest. For much of the year the coastline is affected by a seasonal upwelling system which subjects the shore to vigorous surf action and sea temperatures of 15-16 °C. Outside the upwelling season, the sea temperature may be in the region of 25-26 °C. The Arabian Sea upwelling and its effects are described by CuRRIE et al. (1973), ScHOTT & FIEux (1985), SAVIDGE et al. (1990), and SHEPPARD et al. (1992). The effects of this seasonal upwelling on the coastal marine ecosystem of Dhofar are profound. To investigate the ecological impact of the upwelling, surveys were instigated and carried out by the Tropical Marine Research Unit (TMRU) of the University of York. Two extended visits to the region were made during 1983, one before the period of most active upwelling (Phase I: March to May 1983), and one Published online 01 Aug 2012 94 P .J. Hogarth after (September and October 1983). A further visit was made during November 1985 (Phase III). The Anomura of Dhofar have been described by HoGARTH (1988), and a description of the area and its crustacean fauna in general has been presented by HoGARTH (1989). In this study information on the xanthoid crabs is presented. The classification of SERENE (1984) has been used, whereby the former family Xanthidae has been established as a superfamily Xanthoidea, comprising the families Xanthidae, Pilumnidae, Menippidae and Trapeziidae, corresponding to previous subfamilies. A few specimens have so far resisted identification, and may prove to be new species; this work will be published separately. COLLECTING SITES Four principal rocky shore collecting sites were chosen, as follows: (1) Mughsayl (16°52'20"N, 53°46'15"E). This site consists of an area of fissured, eroded and undercut sedimentary rock along the top of the shore, forming a promontory, and a flat shelving rock platform sloping gently from upper to lower shore. During Phase I (before the seasonal upwelling) the rocks were bare; during Phase II they were almost entirely covered in algae. (2) Raysut (16°55'40"N, 53°49'40"E). The principal Raysut site consists of sedimentary rocks, with undercut rock at the top of the shore and a shelving rock platform below. In addition, collections were made from a shelving pebble beach at Raysut, and from among boulders adjacent to the Raysut harbour mole. (3) Mirbat (16°58'20"N, 54°41'40"E). This is an area of igneous/metamorphic rock outcrops. Wave erosion has resulted in beaches of different forms to those of Mughsayl and Raysut. No rock platform is present, the shore consisting of a jumble of boulders, smaller stones, and bedrock. (4) Sadh (17°03'00"N, 55°04'25"E). The shore resembles that at Mirbat. Collections were made at Sadh itself, and also at Wadi Haart, approximately 19 km to the northeast. Additionally, small numbers of specimens were collected form more northerly parts of Oman, including Hasik, Ras al Hadd, Kuria Muria, Masirah Island, and in the vicinity of Muscat. The locations of these collecting sites are fully described in HoGARTH (1988, 1989). COLLECTIONS Family Xanthidae Actses polyscsnths (Heller 1861) Mirbat Phase I (1 1'), Phase II (1 1'), Mughsayl Phase II (2 I' I', 1 juvenile); shallow sublittoral. Widely distributed in the Indopacific, from the Red Sea, East and southern Africa to Japan and Australia (SERENE 1984). Actseodes tomentosus (H. Milne Edwards 1834) Among stones and boulders, upper to lower shore: Raysut harbour mole, Phase II (1o, 11'), Mirbat Phase I (1 o, 1 1'), Phase II (1 o, 5 1'1', 1 juvenile) and Phase III (1 o). Distributed widely, from the Red Sea to southern Africa, Japan, Australia and Hawaii (SERENE 1984). Xanthoidea of southern Oman 95 ChloroJiella cytherea (Dana 1852) Mirbat, Phase II (1 '1), Phase III (1 iS, 2 'I '1), shore, among stones; Sadh, Phase II (1 iS, 2 'I '1), Phase III (1 'I); shallow sublittoral, on living or dead coral. GUINOT (1966) describes the geographical distribution as including the Red Sea, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion. This distribution is uncertain, as the species has in the past been confused with C. nigra. It has certainly been recorded from Madagascar and the Comoros (SERENE 1984), Somalia and Djibouti (GAUL & VANNINI 1990). ChloroJiella nigra (ForsskaJ. 1775) Masirah, Phase I (2 iS iS); sublittoral (1 m) on branching corals. FoREST & GUINOT (1961) and SERENE (1984) discuss the variation in C. nigra and other species of the genus. Due to misidentifications in the past, the geographical distribution of C. nigra is uncertain, but the species probably occurs from the Red Sea, Madagascar and South Africa to Hawaii and Tuamotu (FoREST & GUINoT 1961, GALIL & VANNINI 1990). Cymo andreossyi (Audouin 1826) On branching corals in shallow sublittoral: Masirah (1 c), Mirbat (1 c) and Hasik (1 c), Phase I, Sadh (1 c) Phase II; on Stylophora. An obligate commensal of branching corals, most commonly Acropora and Pocillopora: recorded from the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea to South Africa, Japan and Australia (SERENE 1984). Cymo melanodactylus De Haan 1833 Sublittoral, on Acropora Sadh, Phase I (1 c). Widespread Indo-West Pacific distribution, frequently occurring sympatrically with C. andreossyi; in the western India Ocean it has been recorded from Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar and Djibouti. As with C. andreossyi, this species is an obligate commensal of branching corals (SERENE 1984). Epiactaea margaritilera (Odhner 1925) Raysut, sublittoral at 10 m, Phase II (1 c). A little-known species that has in the past been confused with E. nodulosa, recorded from Aden and Djibouti, Mayotte and Aldabra to the Gulf of Siam and Australia (NoBILl 1906, GUINOT 1958, SERENE 1984). 96 P.J. Hogarth Etisus snaglyptus H. Milne Edwards 1834 Intertidal among boulders, Mirbat, Phase III (1 o). Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Seychelles and Madagascar to Japan and Australia (SERENE 1984, GALU.. & VANNINI 1990). Etisus electra (Herbst 1801) Mirbat, midclle and lower shore, Phase II (1 o), Phase III (1 o). Common and widely distributed, from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Somalia, East and South Africa to Japan, Australia and Hawaii (SERENE 1984, GALU.. & VANNINI 1990). Lachnopodus subacutus (Stimpson 1858) Intertidal: Raysut Harbour mole, Phase II (1 o), Mirbat Phase III (1 'i'). Confusion over the identity of L. subacutus has been resolved by FoREsT & GUINOT (1961). The geographical distribution appears to extend from the Red Sea, Madagascar and Mauritius to the Ryukyu Islands and Samoa. Leptodius exuatus (H. Milne Edwards 1834) Very common under stones between tides; probably the most abundant xanthoid crab. Masirah (4 o o, 1 'i'), Mirbat (1 o) and Sadh (5 o o, 3 'i' 'i', 2 juveniles) Phase I; Mughsayl (1 o, 1 'i'), Raysut (38 oo, 18 'i"i', 5 juveniles), Mirbat (8 oo, 19 'i' 'i', 4 juveniles), Sadh (8 oo, 14 'i' 'i', 3 juveniles), Muscat (2 o o, 1 'i') Phase II, Mirbat Phase III (3 o o, 4 'i' 'i'). Widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific region, from the Red Sea, East and southern Africa to Japan, Hawaii and Australia (SERENE 1984). Leptodius gracilis (Dana 1852) Lower shore, Ras al Hadd (1 'i') Phase I. Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and Mozambique to Hawaii (SERENE 1984, GALn. & VANNINI 1990). Liomera cinctimsna (White 1847) Mirbat, Phase II (1 o). Scarce, among coral debris on lower shore and in immediate sublittoral. Xanthoidea of southern Oman 97 Distributed from Aden to East Africa, Japan, Australia, California and the Galapagos (SERENE 1984, GAUL & VANNINI 1990). Liomers mgsts (H. Milne Edwards 1834) Raysut Harbour mole (1 o), Mirbat (3 o o, 3 'i! 'i!), Sadh (1 o), among rocks and boulders; Phase II. Distribution: Red Sea, Djibouti, Aden and the western Indian Ocean, including Mauritius, Reunion, Chagos, Madagascar and South Africa (SERENE 1984, GAUL & VANNINI 1990). Lybis plumoss Barnard 1947 Mughsayl, Phase II (1 o, 1 'i!). In crevice of rock platform.