Mediterranean Marine Science

Vol. 8, 2007

A new alien in the Mediterranean? On the presence of Sirpus monodi Gordon, 1953 (Brachyura, ) in Greece

PANCUCCI- Hellenic Centre for Marine PAPADOPOULOU M.A. Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 712, P.C. 19013, Anavyssos, Attiki NALETAKI M. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 2214, P.C. 71003, Gournes Pediados, Irakleion, Crete https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.157

Copyright © 2007

To cite this article:

PANCUCCI-PAPADOPOULOU, M.A., & NALETAKI, M. (2007). A new alien species in the Mediterranean? On the presence of Sirpus monodi Gordon, 1953 (Brachyura, Pirimelidae) in Greece. Mediterranean Marine Science, 8(2), 91-96. doi:https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.157

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Mediterranean Marine Science Volume 8/2, 2007, 91-96

A new alien species in the Mediterranean? On the presence of Sirpus monodi Gordon, 1953 (Brachyura, Pirimelidae) in Greece

M.A. PANCUCCI-PAPADOPOULOU and M. NALETAKI

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavissos, Greece e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Sirpus monodi, first described from West Africa (Dakar, Senegal) and later reported from Maurita- nia and Congo, has now been found in the eastern Mediterranean. This work reports on its occurrence in two Greek localities.

Keywords: Alien species; Brachyurans; Sirpus monodi; Mediterranean.

Introduction only on the West Africa coasts (MONOD, 1956 - Mauritania, Sene- The family Pirimelidae, represented by gal; ROSSIGNOL, 1962 - Congo) the genera Pirimela and Sirpus, seems to - Sirpus gordonae Manning & Holthuis, have a fairly restricted distribution in the 1981, described from Annobon (Gulf Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic of Guinea, S Atlantic, MANNING & (ABELE & FELGENHAUER, 1982). It is HOLTHUIS, 1981) characterized by relatively small specimens, - Sirpus ponticus Verestchaka, 1989, with a hexagonal carapace and four or five previously referred as Sirpus zariquieyi antero-lateral teeth in the genera Sirpus and in the Black Sea (KOCATA , Pirimela respectively. Following the first 1982). description of the Sirpus by The present paper reports on the pres- GORDON (1953a, b), four different spe- ence of Sirpus monodi in the Mediter- cies have been described to date. These are: ranean, from two different areas in Greece. - Sirpus zariquieyi Gordon, 1953, known throughout the Mediterranean and on Material Examined Atlantic coasts of Spain (ZARIQUIEY ALVAREZ, 1968) The examined specimens have been - Sirpus monodi Gordon, 1953, known obtained from different areas (the coasts

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http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 30/09/2021 00:36:39 | of Crete and the Korinthiakos Gulf depth, Dredge, sand with pebbles , 31 respectively, Fig.1), variable substrata (soft October 2006, 1 , 3.25 mm carapace and hard) and depth (from 1 to 14m), length using different sampling methods. More specifically, specimens (deposited in the - The Korinthiakos Gulf (Latitude Hellenic Centre for Marine Research col- 38Æ20,70 Longitude 22Æ, 40 45), 1m lection) were obtained from: depth, scuba diving, hard bottom with photophilous algae, 30 October 2006, - The Cretan Sea, off Siteia, NE Crete 1 , 3.43 mm carapace length (Latitude: 35Æ15'23.99"N, Longitude: 26Æ13'29.70"E) 14 m depth, Van Veen - The Korinthiakos Gulf (Latitude grab, sand, October 2002, 1 3.21 mm 38Æ 22 62, Longitude 22Æ 40 78) carapace length 5m depth, scuba diving, hard bottom with photophilous algae, 15 Febru- - The Korinthiakos Gulf (Latitude 38Æ ary 2007, 1 , 2.63 mm carapace 22,90, Longitude 22Æ 40,00), 5m length.

Fig. 1: Location of the sampling sites.

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The specimens have been identified as S. monodi (Fig. 2), after comparison with S. zariquieyi male (Fig. 3), in order to avoid any misidentification due to the similarity of the female rostrum of S. zariquieyi with the male rostrum of S. monodi. S. monodi differs from S. zariquieyi mainly in the fol- lowing characters: ñ More tuberculated carapace in S. monodi ñ Shorter and more massive spines on Fig. 2: Sirpus monodi Gordon, from the front, orbital and antero-lateral mar- Korinthiakos Gulf. gins (more slender in S. zariquieyi) ñ The setae on the antennal flagellum are simple and rather short in S. monodi compared to long and distally plumose in S. zariquieyi ñ The front consists of three sub-equal, blunt triangular spines, the median one situated below the level of the lat- eral ones and directed obliquely for- wards and downwards in S. monodi (the median one shorter in S. zariquieyi).

The specimens of this study agree Fig. 3: Sirpus zariquiey Gordon, from the well with GORDON’S (1953b) descrip- Korinthiakos Gulf. tions and figures. The unique observed discrepancy was related to the size of August were smaller (mostly 2 to 3 mm) specimens, quite similar in literature than those collected during winter – early between S. monodi and S. zariquiey. summer. From the above, it seems that Indeed, GORDON (1953b) refers to a S. the two species have very similar dimen- monodi male of 4,9 mm carapace length sions, but seasonal variation can be and a S. zariquiey male of 5 mm carapace observed. However, D’ UDEKEM length (the largest at her disposal). How- D’ACOZ has remarked that depending ever, younger S. zariquiey males of only on the orientation of Sirpus specimens, 3.42 mm are considered by the same the relative size of the rostral teeth may author as already mature (GORDON, look different and that the comparison of 1953b). Moreover, ALVAREZ (1968) specimens of the same size is indispensa- reports 6,93 mm in length for the biggest ble (D’ UDEKEM D’ACOZ, pers. S. zariquiey male he collected, mentioning comm.). In our samples S. monodi was however that specimens collected in constantly smaller than S. zariquiey (max

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http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 30/09/2021 00:36:39 | carapace length of S. monodi 3.43 mm that the species could be present in all the vs 5.1 for S. zariquiey, see figure 4 for Greek seas, as well as in the Mediter- comparison). On the other hand, direct ranean, but very probably it has been observation of the two species from the overlooked due to its similarity to S. same area (Korinthiakos Gulf), as well as zariquieyi as well as to its very small size comparison with reported taxonomic and rarity. characters and drawings of S. gordonae It could be speculated that this and S. ponticus, lead to the relative cer- species could be a native in the tainty that the specimens belong to S. Mediterranean. However, it seems rather monodi, leaving some doubts due to size unlikely that more than 50 years after its differences. description this species has not been yet The presence of Sirpus monodi togeth- recorded from the Mediterranean, while er with S. zariquieyi in the same area recent specialized publications have (Korinthiakos Gulf) confirms the occur- included S. zariquiey (VIGNOLI et al., rence of both species in Greece, as S. 2004) or are dealing with its peculiar fea- zariquieyi has already been observed in the tures (BEDINI, 2006). Thus, it seems Ionian Sea (D’UDEKEM D’ACOZ, 1999; more probable to consider its presence in CRUSTIKON, 2007). the Mediterranean as the result of an This record, the first for Greece and accidental transport from its native distri- the Mediterranean Sea, considerably bution range. As for its mode of introduc- extends the known distribution of Sirpus tion, in the Korinthiakos Gulf it is very monodi. As S. monodi specimens have likely related to shipping, as the sampling been found in different areas, it seems area is very close to a private harbour

a) S. zariquiey b) S. monodi Fig. 4: Comparison of dimensions between the two species.

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http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 30/09/2021 00:36:39 | where ships coming from Ghana have 25ÆN. Patrimoines naturels (Muséum been delivering material at least twice a national d’Histoire naturelle, Institut year over the last 5 years. Regarding the d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodi- species presence in the Cretan Sea, it versité et Service du Patrimoine remains unknown. Either shipping or Naturel), 40: 383 p. another mode of introduction has to be D'UDEKEM D'ACOZ, C., 2007. Crusti- examined, as the sampling site is close to kon – photo- graphic web- aquaculture installations. However, it is site – Troms Museum – University of worth mentioning that Italian ships com- Troms : www.imv.uit.no/crustikon/). ing from African coasts, visit Cretan har- GORDON, I., 1953a. On a new crab from bours (Ierapetra, Siteia) for fish catch dis- Cadaqués on the North East Coast of posal. Thus, shipping is assumed to be the Spain. Eos, Madrid, 28(4): 303-314. most probable vector of Sirpus monodi in GORDON, I., 1953b. On Sirpus a genus of Greek waters. pigmy cancroid . Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History.) Acknowledgements Zoology, 2(3): 43-65. KOCATA , A., 1982. On the occurrence The authors are very grateful to the of Sirpus zariquieyi Gordon ( reviewers of the manuscript, especially to Brachyura) in the Black Sea and the Dr. D’Udekem d’Acoz for his constructive Sea of Marmara. Crustaceana, 43(2): comments and criticism, to Prof. R. Bedini 177-180. (Istituto di Biologia ed Ecologia Marina, MANNING, R.B.& HOLTHUIS L.B., Piombino) and to Dr. S. Zervoudaki 1981. West African Brachyuran Crabs (HCMR) for her assistance during photog- (Crustacea: Decapoda). Smithsonian raphy under stereomicroscope. Contributions to Zoology, 306: i-xii + 1- 379. References MONOD, TH., 1956. Hippidea et Brachyu- ra ouest-africains. Mémoires de l’ Insti- ABELE, L.G. & FELGENHAUER, B.E., tute Français d’Afrique Noire, 45: 1-674. 1982. Eucarida. In Parker, S.P., Synop- ROSSIGNOL, M., 1962. Catalogue de sis and Classification of Living Organ- Crustaces Decapodes Brachyoures, isms, vol. 2. McGraw-Hill, New York: Anomoures et Macroures littoraux en 294-326. collection au centre d’ oceanographie BEDINI, R., 2006. Polymorphism of de Pointe-Noire. Travaux du Centre colour patterns related to environ- Oceanographique de Pointe-Noire, 2 : mental factors: correlation between 111-138. habitat, sight, and mimicry in Sirpus VERESHCHAKA, A.L., 1989. A new zariquieyi Gordon, 1953. Crustaceana crab species Sirpus ponticus sp. n. 79(1) ; 53-67. (Crustacea, Pirimelidae) from the D’ UDEKEM D'ACOZ, C., 1999. Inven- Black Sea. Zoolological Zhurnal, taire et distribution des crustacés 68(8): 41-47 (in Russian). décapodes de l’Atlantique nord-orien- VIGNOLI, V., CARUSO, T. & FALCIAI, tal, de la Méditerranée et des eaux L., 2004. Decapoda Brachyura from continentals adjacentes au nord de Monte Argentario (Mediterranean

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http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 30/09/2021 00:36:39 | Sea, Central Tyrrhenian). Crus- Crusta’ceos Deca’podos Ibéricos. Inves- taceana, 77(2): 177-186. tigaciones Pesquera, Barcelona, 32: i-xv ZARIQUIEY ALVAREZ R., 1968. + 1-510.

Accepted in 2007

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