DOCSLIB.ORG

Crustacean Research 49 KARSTARMA UMBRA, a NEW SPECIES of CAVERNICOLOUS CRAB Which Is Clearly Trapezoidal in Shape with the of K

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Crustacean Research 49 KARSTARMA UMBRA, a NEW SPECIES of CAVERNICOLOUS CRAB Which Is Clearly Trapezoidal in Shape with the of K Crustacean Research 2020 Vol.49: 73–88 ©Carcinological Society of Japan. doi: 10.18353/crustacea.49.0_73 Karstarma umbra, a new species of cavernicolous crab (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from Vanuatu, with a key to the genus Peter K. L. Ng Abstract.―A new species of cavernicolous sesarmid crab is described from Vanuatu. Karstarma umbra sp. nov. belongs to a group of three species that has the chitinous distal part of the male first gonopod slender and elongate. The new species can easily be distinguished from K. balicum (from Bali, Indonesia) and K. loyalty (from Loyalty Islands) by its distinctly longer ambulatory legs and its relatively more slender male first gonopod. Karstarma umbra is morphologically closest to K. waigeo (from Indo- nesian Papua) but has proportionately longer legs and the outer margin of the male first gonopod is distinctly concave. The taxonomy of the genus is discussed and a re- vised key to the 18 species is provided. LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D54659BC-D9B8-43FA-ADBE-5A9324F52675 Key words: Taxonomy, Grapsoidea, South Pacific, new species, key, Karstarma, species-groups ■ Introduction zontally on a level surface; the length being taken from the proximal angle with the basis- Seventeen species of the cave sesarmid ge- ischium to the distalmost margin where it artic- nus Karstarma Davie & Ng, 2007, are known ulates with the carpus; while the width is ob- from the Indian Ocean and western Pacific (Ng tained at the widest point, which is usually at et al., 2008; Wowor & Ng, 2009, 2018; Husana the median point (cf. Maenosono & Naruse, et al., 2010; Poupin et al., 2018) (Table 1). A 2016). The following abbreviations are used: new species is here described from caves in G1＝male first gonopod; G2＝male second Santo Island in Vanuatu. The taxonomy of the gonopod; P2–P5＝pereopods 2–5 (ambulatory genus is discussed and a revised key is con- legs 1–4, respectively). structed to help identify the species. Specimens are deposited in the Zoological ■ Taxonomy Reference Collection (ZRC) of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Nation- Family Sesarmidae Dana, 1851 al University of Singapore; and the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre (ex Rijksmuseum van Karstarma Davie & Ng, 2007 Natuurlijke Historie, RMNH), Leiden, The Netherlands. Type species The terminology used follows Davie et al. Sesarmoides boholano Ng, 2002, by original (2015). Measurements provided, in millime- designation. tres, are of the maximum carapace width and length, respectively. The ambulatory merus is Remarks measured with the structure positioned hori- Although Wowor & Ng (2009) recognised Received: 29 Feb 2020. Accepted: 14 Apr 2020. Published online: 12 June 2020. 73 PETER K. L. NG Table 1. List of known Karstarma species Species Distribution References Karstarma ardea Wowor & Ng, 2009 Raja Ampat, Indonesian Papua Wowor & Ng (2009) Karstarma balicum (Ng, 2002) Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia Ng (2002) Karstarma boholano (Ng, 2002) Bohol, Philippines; Ng (2002), Ishigaki Island, Ryukyus, Japan; Naruse et al. (2005), Green Island, Taiwan Husana et al. (2010), Li et al. (2019) Karstarma cerberus (Holthuis, 1964) Nusa Lain, west of Ambon, Indonesia Holthuis (1964), Fransen et al. (1997), present study Karstarma emdi (Ng & Whitten, 1995) Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia Ng & Whitten (1995), Ng (2002) Karstarma guamense (Ng, 2002) Tumon Bay, Guam Ng (2002) Karstarma jacksoni (Balss, 1934) Christmas Island, Australian Indian Ocean Balss (1934), Territory Orchard (2012), Poupin et al. (2018) Karstarma jacobsoni (Ihle, 1912) Gunung Sewu, Central Java, Indonesia Ilhe (1912), Holthuis (1964), Naruse & Ng (2007), Wowor & Ng (2018) Karstarma loyalty (Ng, 2002) Lifou Island, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia Ng (2002) Karstarma malang Wowor & Ng, 2018 Malang, East Java, Indonesia Wowor & Ng (2018) Karstarma microphthalmus (Naruse & Ng, 2007) Gua Marapetang, south Sulawesi, Indonesia Naruse & Ng (2007) Karstarma novabritannia (Ng, 1988) Arawe Island, New Britain Ng (1988), present study Karstarma philippinarum Husana, Naruse & Kase, 2010 Boracay and Samal Islands, Philippines Husana et al. (2010) Karstarma sulu (Ng, 2002) Palawan, Philippines Ng (2002) Karstarma ultrapes (Ng, Guinot & Iliffe, 1994) Florida and Malaita Islands, Solomon Islands Ng et al. (1994), Wowor & Ng (2009), Husana et al. (2010) Karstarma umbra sp. nov. Santo, Vanuatu Present study Karstarma vulcan Poupin, Crestey & Le Guelte, 2018 Réunion Island Poupin et al. (2018) Karstarma waigeo Wowor & Ng, 2009 Raja Ampat, Indonesian Papua Wowor & Ng (2009) two groups of Karstarma which they defined peared to be closer to species of Geosesarma by the shape of the carapace, proportions of the De Man, 1892 (see Ng & Wowor, 2019) and P3 and P4, as well as structures of the G1 and they form a third group (see also Poupin et al., vulva; three groups are actually discernible. 2018). Wowor & Ng (2018) noted that the three spe- Members of the K. ultrapes species-group cies of Karstarma from Java and Sulawesi ap- are the most distinctive, possessing a carapace 74 Crustacean Research 49 KARSTARMA UMBRA, A NEW SPECIES OF CAVERNICOLOUS CRAB which is clearly trapezoidal in shape with the of K. microphthalmus is also large, so this spe- posterior part very wide; the epigastric and cies probably has large eggs as well. This is the protogastric cristae are fused, forming a large group Wowor & Ng (2018) suggested was re- swelling that protrudes anteriorly, intruding to lated to Geosesarma as all the known Javanese the level of the frontal margin, with the frontal species in this genus have direct development region just or barely visible in dorsal view; the with the large eggs hatching into juvenile crabs cornea of the eye is not reduced; the P4 is very (Ng et al., 2015; Ng & Wowor, 2019). elongate (more than four times the carapace Species in the K. boholano species-group length); there are no prominent long tufts of se- have a subtrapezoidal to quadrate carapace tae between the coxae of P2–P4; the G1 has the with the posterior part slightly wider; the epi- chitinous distal part straight, cylindrical and gastric and protogastric cristae are separate and gently bent outwards at an angle of about distinct but do not protrude anteriorly with the 30–40° along the longitudinal axis; and the frontal region and margin distinct in dorsal vulva is formed by a large U-shaped posterior view; the cornea of the eye is not reduced; the sternal vulval cover with a prominent anterior P4 is long (less than four times the carapace cover, with both projections partially covering length); there are tufts of setae between the the prominent rounded operculum. Three spe- coxae of P2–P4 which are usually dense, long cies are in this group: K. ardea, K. philippina- and prominent; the G1 has the chitinous distal rum and K. ultrapes. No ovigerous females are part short or elongate and sharply bent out- known but on the basis of their small vulvae, wards at an angle of about 90° along the longi- their eggs are probably small and less than a tudinal axis; and the vulva has a prominent millimetre in diameter. posterior sternal vulval cover with a small an- Members of the K. jacobsoni species-group terior one, the whole structure being distinctly also have a trapezoidal carapace but the poste- elevated. Eleven species are in this group: K. rior part is proportionately less wide and the balicum, K. boholano (type species), K. cer- carapace appears more subquadrate; the epi- berus, K. emdi, K. guamense, K. jacksoni, K. gastric and protogastric cristae are lower, with loyalty, K. novabritannia, K. sulu, K. vulcan, the sharp epigastric crista protruding anteriorly and K. waigeo. The egg size of several species to some degree but not completely obscuring are known and they are all small, less than a the frontal region in dorsal view; the cornea of millimetre in diameter (see Ng, 2002; Orchard, the eye is distinctly reduced; the P4 is elongate 2012; Poupin et al., 2018; unpublished data), (less than four times the carapace length); there with Li et al. (2019) recently obtaining plank- are prominent tufts of dense, long setae be- tonic zoeae for K. boholano. Most of the spe- tween the coxae of P2–P4; the G1 has the chi- cies have a short and truncate chitinous distal tinous distal part straight, cylindrical and gen- part of the G1; only in three species is the chi- tly bent outwards at an angle of about 30–40° tinous distal part elongate and tapering̶K. along the longitudinal axis; and the vulva has a balicum, K. loyalty and K. waigeo, like in K. simple broad lateral sternal vulval cover with umbra sp. nov. the structure almost level with the sternal sur- The figures of K. cerberus and K. novabri- face. Three species are in this group: K. jacob- tannia appear to depict the two species pos- soni, K. malang and K. microphthalmus. The sessing epigastric cristae which are directed eggs of the first two species are large (ca. anteriorly and reaching the frontal margin 1.8 mm in diameter) and they almost certainly (Holthuis 1964: fig. 1, 2a; Ng 1988: pl. 1) like practice abbreviated or semi-abbreviated de- those in the K. ultrapes species-group (Fig. 6A, velopment (Wowor & Ng, 2018). The vulvae B). This is, however, not accurate as the cara- Crustacean Research 49 75 PETER K. L. NG pace had been slightly tilted anteriorly when be regarded as stygobites. All the other species, the structure was originally drawn or photo- including K. umbra, are best described as sty- graphed. Both species actually have normal gophiles or stygoxenes, and while mainly epigastric cristae that do not protrude anteriorly found in caves, are probably found in habitats (Fig. 5A–D). These two species also have setae outside the caves as well (see Ng, 2013; Ng & between the coxae of P2–P4 but the setae are Guinot, 2014).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Classification of Living and Fossil Genera of Decapod Crustaceans
    RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 2009 Supplement No. 21: 1–109 Date of Publication: 15 Sep.2009 © National University of Singapore A CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING AND FOSSIL GENERA OF DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS Sammy De Grave1, N. Dean Pentcheff 2, Shane T. Ahyong3, Tin-Yam Chan4, Keith A. Crandall5, Peter C. Dworschak6, Darryl L. Felder7, Rodney M. Feldmann8, Charles H. J. M. Fransen9, Laura Y. D. Goulding1, Rafael Lemaitre10, Martyn E. Y. Low11, Joel W. Martin2, Peter K. L. Ng11, Carrie E. Schweitzer12, S. H. Tan11, Dale Tshudy13, Regina Wetzer2 1Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, United Kingdom [email protected] [email protected] 2Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007 United States of America [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 3Marine Biodiversity and Biosecurity, NIWA, Private Bag 14901, Kilbirnie Wellington, New Zealand [email protected] 4Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan, Republic of China [email protected] 5Department of Biology and Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 United States of America [email protected] 6Dritte Zoologische Abteilung, Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien, Austria [email protected] 7Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA 70504 United States of America [email protected] 8Department of Geology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242 United States of America [email protected] 9Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, P. O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands [email protected] 10Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th and Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20560 United States of America [email protected] 11Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 12Department of Geology, Kent State University Stark Campus, 6000 Frank Ave.
    [Show full text]
  • 17 the Crabs Belonging to the Grapsoidea Include a Lot Of
    17 SUPERFAMILY GRAPSOIDEA The crabs belonging to the Grapsoidea include a lot of ubiquitous species collected in the mangrove and/or along the coastline. As a result, most of the species listed here under the ‘Coastal Rock-rubble’ biotope of table 2b could be reasonably listed also with marine species. This is particularly true for the Grapsidae: Grapsus, Pachygrapsus, Pseudograpsus, and Thalassograpsus. FAMILY GECARCINIDAE Cardisoma carnifex (Herbst, 1796). Figure 12. – Cardisoma carnifex - Guinot, 1967: 289 (Checklist of WIO species, with mention of Grande Comore and Mayotte). - Bouchard, 2009: 6, 8, Mayotte, Malamani mangrove, 16 April 2008, St. 1, 12°55.337 S, 44°09.263 E, upper mangrove in shaded area, burrow, about 1.5 m depth, 1 male 61×74 mm (MNHN B32409). - KUW fieldwork November 2009, St. 6, Petite Terre, Badamiers spillway, upper littoral, 1 female 53×64 mm (MNHN B32410), 1 male 65×75.5 mm (MNHN B32411); St. 29, Ngouja hotel, Mboianatsa beach, in situ photographs only. Distribution. – Widespread in the IWP. Red Sea, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Europa, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Réunion, Mauritius, India, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Wallis & Futuna, French Polynesia. Comment. – Gecarcinid land crabs are of large size and eaten in some places (West Indies, Wallis & Futuna, and French Polynesia). In Mayotte, however, they are not much prized for food and are not eaten. Figure 12. Cardisoma carnifex. Mayotte, KUW 2009 fieldwork: A) aspect of station 29, upper littoral Ngouja hotel, Mboianatsa beach; B) same, detail of a crab at the entrance of its burrow; C) St. 6, 1 female 53×64 mm (MNHN B32410); D) probably the same specimen, in situ at St.
    [Show full text]
  • Joseph L. Staton and Darryl L. Felder Joseph L. Staton and Darryl L
    JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY, 12(3): 335-341, 1992 OSMOREGULATORY CAPACI'IIES IN DISJUNCT WESTERN ATLANTIC POPULATIONS OF THE SESARMA RETICULATUM COMPLEX (DECAPODA: GRAPSIDAE) Joseph L. Staton and Darryl L. Felder ABSTRACT Osmotic and ionic regulatorycapacities of a populationof Sesarma reticulatumfrom Bruns- wick, Georgia, on the Atlantic coast of the United States were compared with those of a populationof S. sp. (near reticulatum)from coastal Louisianain the northernGulf of Mexico. Samples of similar-sizedadults from both populationswere subjectedto simultaneous8-day acclimationtreatments over a rangeof salinities from 48-1 ppt. At acclimationsalinities from >5 to <35 ppt, animals from the northernGulf of Mexico hyperosmoregulatedat a lower plateau of blood osmolality than did those from the Atlantic coast. However, from midrange to the lowest acclimationsalinities, hyperosmoticregulation in the Gulf of Mexico population was maintainedwithout measurablereduction of blood osmotic concentration.A major com- ponent of the variationin blood osmolality appearsto be reflectedin differentialregulation of sodium at salinities < 10 ppt. We suggestthat divergencein osmoregulatorypattern of sibling populations is genetically based and is maintained by the absence of gene flow around the peninsula of Florida. This divergencemay reflectdifferential adaptation to habitatsthat vary in salinity structure,tidal effects, and temperature. Coastal warm-temperatepopulations of Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico (Williams, decapods in the western Atlantic were long 1984). Collections by one of us (DLF) ex- thought to be comprised of widely distrib- tend the southern range of Gulf of Mexico uted species ranging from the Carolinian populations well into Tamaulipas, Mexico. Province of the Atlantic coast into the Priorto studiesby Zimmermanand Feld- northern Gulf of Mexico (Felder, 1973; er (1991), work concerning ecology, devel- Powers, 1977; Williams, 1984).
    [Show full text]
  • On the Identities of Sesarma Obesum Dana, 1851, and Sesarma Eydouxi H
    On the identities of Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851, and Sesarma eydouxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) Peter K. L. NG Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 119260 (Republic of Singapore) [email protected] Christoph D. SCHUBART Biologie 1, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg (Germany) [email protected] Ng P. K. L. & Schubart C. D. 2003. — On the identities of Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851, and Sesarma eydouxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae). Zoosystema 25 (3) : 425-437. ABSTRACT The identities of two poorly known species of Indo-West Pacific sesarmid crabs, which have been referred to the genus Chiromantes Gistel, 1848, are clarified. Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851, is shown to be a senior synonym of Metasesarma rousseauxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853. A neotype from northern KEY WORDS Crustacea, Borneo is designated to fix the identity of the species. Sesarma eydouxi H. Decapoda, Milne Edwards, 1853, a species supposedly described from Vietnam and not Brachyura, reported there or in the region since its description, is shown to be a junior Sesarmidae, Sesarma obesum, synonym of the Atlantic species Sesarma rectum Randall, 1840; its original Sesarma eydouxi. provenance almost certainly being incorrect. RÉSUMÉ Identités de Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851, et Sesarma eydouxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae). Les identités de deux espèces peu connues de crabes Sesarmidae de l’Indo- ouest Pacifique, qui ont été rattachées au genre Chiromantes Gistel, 1848, sont clarifiées. Il est démontré que Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851, est un syno- nyme antérieur de Metasesarma rousseauxi H.
    [Show full text]
  • Benthic Invertebrate Species Richness & Diversity At
    BBEENNTTHHIICC INVVEERTTEEBBRRAATTEE SPPEECCIIEESSRRIICCHHNNEESSSS && DDIIVVEERRSSIITTYYAATT DIIFFFFEERRENNTTHHAABBIITTAATTSS IINN TTHHEEGGRREEAATEERR CCHHAARRLLOOTTTTEE HAARRBBOORRSSYYSSTTEEMM Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program 1926 Victoria Avenue Fort Myers, Florida 33901 March 2007 Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 1169 The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is a partnership of citizens, elected officials, resource managers and commercial and recreational resource users working to improve the water quality and ecological integrity of the greater Charlotte Harbor watershed. A cooperative decision-making process is used within the program to address diverse resource management concerns in the 4,400 square mile study area. Many of these partners also financially support the Program, which, in turn, affords the Program opportunities to fund projects such as this. The entities that have financially supported the program include the following: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Southwest Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Coastal Zone Management Program Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Lee, Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee Counties Cities of Sanibel, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, North Port, Venice and Fort Myers Beach and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This document was prepared with support from the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program with supplemental support from Mote Marine Laboratory. The project was conducted through the Benthic Ecology Program of Mote's Center for Coastal Ecology. Mote staff project participants included: Principal Investigator James K. Culter; Field Biologists and Invertebrate Taxonomists, Jay R. Leverone, Debi Ingrao, Anamari Boyes, Bernadette Hohmann and Lucas Jennings; Data Management, Jay Sprinkel and Janet Gannon; Sediment Analysis, Jon Perry and Ari Nissanka.
    [Show full text]
  • Cardisoma Guanhumi Latreille, 1825) in a Restricted‑Access Mangrove Area, Analyzed Using PIT Tags Denise Moraes‑Costa1 and Ralf Schwamborn2*
    Moraes‑Costa and Schwamborn Helgol Mar Res (2018) 72:1 https://doi.org/10.1186/s10152-017-0504-0 Helgoland Marine Research ORIGINAL ARTICLE Open Access Site fdelity and population structure of blue land crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille, 1825) in a restricted‑access mangrove area, analyzed using PIT tags Denise Moraes‑Costa1 and Ralf Schwamborn2* Abstract Understanding the patterns of displacement and site fdelity in blue land crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille, 1825) has important implications for their conservation and management. The central objective of this study was to analyze seasonal variations in site fdelity in C. guanhumi, a species that is intensively exploited in Brazil, in spite of being part of the Ofcial National List of Critically Endangered Species. This species currently sufers multiple severe threats, such as overharvesting and habitat destruction. C. guanhumi were sampled monthly at four fxed sectors that were delim‑ ited at the upper fringe of a restricted-access mangrove at Itamaracá Island between April 2015 and March 2016. One thousand and seventy-eight individuals were captured, measured, sexed, weighed, and their color patterns registered. Of these, 291 individuals were tagged with PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags. Ninety-seven individuals (size range 27.0–62.6 mm carapace width) were successfully recaptured, totaling 135 recapture events. The largest interval between marking and recapture was 331 days. Through the use of mark-recapture-based models, it was possible to 2 estimate the local population as being 1312 ( 417) individuals (mean density 2.23 0.71 ind. m­ − ). Considering the mean density of burrow openings and individuals,± there were 3.4 burrow openings± per individual.
    [Show full text]
  • Cave-Dwelling Crabs of the Genus Karstarma from Lava Tubes of The
    Cave-dwelling crabs of the genus Karstarma from lava tubes of the volcano ‘Piton de la Fournaise’, Réunion Island, with description of a new species and redescription of Karstarma jacksoni (Balss, 1934) from Christmas Island (Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) Running title: Crabs Karstarma from Reunion Island JOSEPH POUPIN1, NICOLE CRESTEY2, JEAN-PAUL LE GUELTE3. 1École Navale, BCRM Brest, École navale et groupe des écoles du Poulmic, CC 600, F-29240 Brest cedex 09, France. [email protected], corresponding author. 2Association citoyenne de Saint-Pierre, 12, Rue Caumont, Saint-Pierre, 97410 La Réunion. [email protected] 3 Les Avirons, 97425 La Réunion. [email protected] Abstract Sesarmid crabs of the genus Karstarma Davie & Ng, 2007 are reported for the first time in the Western Indian Ocean: they were discovered in the lava tubes of the volcano ‘Piton de la Fournaise’, Réunion Island. A new species, morphologically similar to Karstarma jacksoni (Balss, 1934) from Christmas Island, Eastern Indian Ocean, is recognized and described. A redescription of K. jacksoni is also provided. A second species is recognized but being represented in the collection by a single juvenile it cannot be identified to species level until more collections are made in the lava tubes. Key Words: Crustacea, Sesarmidae, Indian Ocean, new species, endemic species, cave- dwelling species, taxonomy. Introduction On 15 November 2014, one of the authors (N. Crestey) discovered an unusual crab in the lava tube of ‘Brûlé des Citrons Galets’, near the south-eastern coast line of Réunion Island, Western Indian Ocean (WIO). This specimen was photographed but not captured (ACSP, 2014; Robert, 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Sesarma) Quadrata (Fabricias): Aj * £ \Sesarrna)^A *-*ㄒ. P^Dageof Male
    Sesarma {Sesarma) quadrata (Fabricias): aj*£ \sesarrna)^a *-*££. P^dageof male. c. Tip of same, enlarged. ^fS abdominal appen^- ,. l<t left abdom._ £** of crab. ,. Cheliped, external v.ew. • J^ite: A- ^T*&[" (Zsarma) minuta. deJIan . Wfe, enlaced. &«nSa (5«ao«a) /*«<**» V™W*« <££ «'. 3rd walking leg- Ppenda e a * r^ ^ <•>* male. ;. Tip of saim-. «°' ,* Chelip^ of re J* abll(,rai0al ap pelage o PI ar^ °tL«siadtp,e<at«berculata (LamarcKJ • 'PPfndage of male. ON THE MARINE CRABS OF BOMBAY In the anterior male abdominal appendages, there k^ln( , , the extreme end of the broad tip. There are^iJ^ bSffi nfi at This species has been previously recorded from Karachi TK—*6?' first record from Bombay State. m Karachl- This is the Metaplax distincta Milne«Edwards (Plate 16) Metapiax distinctus, ^Man, Journ. Linn. Soc. London {Zool.) xxii, p. l58 Metaplax distincta, Henderson, Trans. Linn. Soc. London (Zool.) v, p. 391 Alcock, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal lxix, p. 432 (1900). The present collection is represented by a female from Karwar. It measures : length of carapace ... ig mm. breadth of carapace ..' 24 mm." In this species the carapace is slightly less than three-fourths as long as broad. The lower border of the orbit in the male is prolonged to the level of the second notch in the lateral border. The lobules of the infra­ orbital ridge are from 25 to 30 ; the lobules of the orbital portion (10-12) are small, and gradually decrease in size from within outward. The anterior border of the meropodites of the legs is armed, in the first and last pairs with a subterminal spine, in the middle two with several spines.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Diversity of Freshwater Crabs (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from Central Jamaica with Description of a New Species
    Journal of Natural History, 2005; 39(6): 469–481 Genetic diversity of freshwater crabs (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from central Jamaica with description of a new species CHRISTOPH D. SCHUBART & PETER KOLLER Fakulta¨t fu¨r Biologie 1 (Zoologie), Universita¨t Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] (Accepted 2 February 2004) Abstract Jamaica is the only island of the Greater Antilles where freshwater streams are not populated by representatives of the old lineage of freshwater crabs, the Pseudothelphusidae. Instead, a very diverse fauna of endemic sesarmid crabs inhabits freshwater and terrestrial habitats throughout the island, thereby showing complete independence from the sea. They have been reported thriving in bromeliad leaf axils, rock rubble, empty snail shells, caves and mountain streams. Otherwise, the Sesarmidae are typical inhabitants of soft-sediment littoral habitats like marshes and mangroves. For many years, crabs from Jamaican mountains streams had been considered to belong to a single species, Sesarma bidentatum Benedict 1892. However, recent morphological and molecular studies have shown that crabs from mountain streams of different regions of the island belong to different species. Consequently, four new crab species have been described over the last 10 years. In this study, we give evidence that freshwater streams in central Jamaica also host two different species of crabs. In streams draining to the north we exclusively found the species S. windsor Tu¨rkay and Diesel, 1994, while streams draining to the south were inhabited by a closely related but undescribed species of crab. The southern species is here described as new and is referred to as Sesarma meridies sp.
    [Show full text]
  • Counting Crabs: Assessment of Mangrove Crab Diversity and Density Among Three Sites in Ushongo, Tanzania Clarasophia Gust SIT Study Abroad
    SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad SIT Digital Collections Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection SIT Study Abroad Fall 2017 Counting Crabs: Assessment of Mangrove Crab Diversity and Density Among Three Sites in Ushongo, Tanzania Clarasophia Gust SIT Study Abroad Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection Part of the African Studies Commons, Animal Sciences Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Forest Sciences Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Oceanography Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Gust, Clarasophia, "Counting Crabs: Assessment of Mangrove Crab Diversity and Density Among Three Sites in Ushongo, Tanzania" (2017). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2704. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2704 This Unpublished Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the SIT Study Abroad at SIT Digital Collections. It has been accepted for inclusion in Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection by an authorized administrator of SIT Digital Collections. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Counting Crabs: Assessment of Mangrove Crab Diversity and Density Among Three Sites in Ushongo, Tanzania SIT Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology Fall 2017 Clarasophia Gust Biology Major; Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA Location: Ushongo, Tanzania, Africa Advisor: Professor Gasto Lyakurwa, College of African
    [Show full text]
  • DE MAN by In
    A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF SESARMA CATENATA ORT. AND CYCLOGRAPSUS PUNCTATUS M. EDW., WITH ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON SESARMA MEINERT! DE MAN by STEPHANIE J. ALEXANDERt AND D. W. EWER'" Department of Zoology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown In the estuary of the Kowie River in the Eastern Cape Province there occur two amphibious grapsoid crabs, Sesarma catenata Ort. and Cyc/ograpsus punctatus M. Edw. They live together in many places, commonly inhabiting the same burrows in the muddy banks of the river. The present exploratory study of these two species has been undertaken to enhance our knowledge of their biology as well as our understanding of the relations between these two very similar animals which live in such close proximity one to another. THE HABITAT The Kowie River empties into the sea at Port Alfred, and is broad, winding and shallow. The tidal limit lies 13 miles from the mouth and over most of this length extensive, gently sloping mud banks are left exposed at low tide. The level of mean high tide is marked by a low salting cliff which is surmounted with vegetation. At Port Alfred itself the river runs between steep, stony, artificial dykes and on either side lie lagoons (Fig. 1). The lagoons on the East Bank . ) 0 (1, 2 and 3) are almost completely cut off from the river although an exchange of water does 1 0 2 take place via seepage points in the dyke. The two western lagoons (4 and 5) are fully tidal. d e Large areas of the intertidal zone in the estuary are colonised by the tall, coarse marsh t a d grass Spartina capensis Nees (S.
    [Show full text]
  • Mangrove Leaf Litter Processing by Sesarmid Crabs
    107 Cey. J. Sci. (Bio. Sci.) 35 (2):107-114, 2006 MANGROVE LEAF LITTER PROCESSING BY SESARMID CRABS S. Ravichandran*, T. Kannupandi and K. Kathiresan Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai – 608 502, India. Accepted: 30 May 2006 ABSTRACT The sesarmid crabs belonging to the Family Grapsidae and Subfamily Sesarminae are mainly herbivorous as proven in the present study by their gut-contents. Gut contents of Sesarma brockii, S. andersoni, and S. plicatum are almost similar containing high amount of vascular plant matter ranging from 58.33 to 72.54% of total diet. However, Metapograpsus maculatus (52.94%) and M. messor (40.27%) consumed a low amount of plant material. Under laboratory conditions, S. brockii preferred to consume 40-day decomposed Avicennia marina leaves. This serves as a good-quality food, helping growth, survival and moulting frequency of the crabs. Thus, the leaf-eating crabs breakdown the mangrove leaf litter to detrital sized particles and they regulate the nutritive pathway in the mangrove environment. Key words: Sesarmid crabs, Mangrove leaf litter INTRODUCTION Mangrove crabs especially sesarmids play an were collected from the Pichavaram mangrove important role in the initial processing of litter in forest (11° 27’ N; 79° 47; E) located about 250 km intertidal, riverine and fringing forests (Dahdouh- south of Chennai on the south-east coast of India. Guebas et al., 1997; Ravichandran et al., 2000; Kathiresan and Bingham, 2001). The sesarmid crabs For gut content analysis, 30 individuals of each Chiromanthes bidnes and C. maipoensis together crab species were collected randomly from the entire consume more than 50% of the daily litter mangrove study area.
    [Show full text]