Dissodactylus Crinitichelismoreira, 1901 and Leodia Sexiesperforata
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Nauplius 19(1): 63-70, 2011 63 Dissodactylus crinitichelis Moreira, 1901 and Leodia sexiesperforata (Leske, 1778): first record of this symbiosis in Brazil Vinicius Queiroz, Licia Sales, Elizabeth Neves and Rodrigo Johnsson LABIMAR (Crustacea, Cnidaria & Fauna Associada), Universidade Federal da Bahia. Avenida Adhemar de Barros s/nº, Campus Ondina. CEP 40170- 290. Salvador, BA, Brazil. E-mail: (VQ) [email protected]; (LS) [email protected]; (EN) [email protected]; (RJ) [email protected] Abstract The crabs of the genusDissodactylus are well known as ectosymbionts of irregular echinoids belonging to Clypeasteroida and Spatangoida. Dissodactylus crinitichelis is the only species of the genus reported in Brazil. The pea crab species has been already recorded associated with four species of echinoids in Brazilian waters. This paper reviews the known hosts for D. crinitichelis and registers for the first time the association between the pea crab and the sand dollar Leodia sexiesperforata increasing to five the number of known hosts for the crab. Key Words: Ecological association, ectosymbiont, Pinnotheridae. Introduction includes about 302 species of little crabs (Ng et al., 2008) highly specialized in living The diversity of the marine environment, in close association with other invertebrates. specially the benthic substratum is commonly The family is known for their association reflected by many interactions among with various invertebrate taxa, such as organisms, even free living ones. Such event molluscs, polychaetes, ascidians, crustaceans is quite common since many of these species or echinoderms (holothurians and irregular act as substratum or environment for others. echinoids) (Schmitt et al., 1973; Powers, 1977; The existence of many organisms living in Williams, 1984; Takeda et al., 1997; Thoma association and their close relation allows for et al., 2005, 2009; Ahyong and Ng, 2007). the emergence of symbiotics relationships However the pinnotherids are also capable (Thiel et al., 2003; Rohde, 2005; Baeza, of showing a short free-living stage (first crab 2007). Symbiosis, sensu De Bary (1879), stage) (Christensen and McDermott, 1958). can be defined as “a phenomenon in which Among the 54 genera of Pinnotheridae, dissimilar organisms live together” (Vermeij, Dissodactylus (Smith, 1870) (Ng et al., 1983; Paracer and Ahmadjian, 2000). These 2008; Ng and van Tri, 2010) is known interactions are commonly observed among as an ectosymbiont of irregular echinoids crustaceans. Therefore, these taxa have many (Griffith, 1987a). The genus is characterized species that have adapted to co-exist in by a discontinuous anterolateral margin symbiosis with other invertebrates (Barel and of the carapace, delicate, ventrally curved Kramers, 1977; Rohde, 2005). labium, epistome dorsoventrally reduced, and The Pinnotheridae De Haan, 1833 subrectangular, medially directed ischium- merus of the third maxilliped (Griffith, 1987a; 64 Queiroz, V. et al.: New host record for Dissodactylus crinitichelis Campos and Griffith, 1990). The distribution aim of this paper is to report the association of Dissodactylus is restricted to the New World, between Dissodactylus crinitichelis and Leodia ranging in the western Atlantic Ocean from sexiesperforata for the first time outside the Massachusetts (USA) to Argentina, with four Caribbean, specifically for Brazil. species recorded, and in the eastern Pacific from Mexico to Peru, where five species are known (Rathbun, 1918; Schmitt et al., 1973; Material and Methods Werding and Sanchez, 1989; Martins and D’lncao, 1996; Fumis et al., 2006). However, Sampling was carried out on May 13th, so far, there are no common records between 2010 at the Porto da Barra beach, Salvador the Pacific and Atlantic regions (Griffith, - BA, Brazil (13°00’24”S - 38°31’48”W). 1987a; Campos and Griffith, 1990). Specimens of Leodia sexiesperforata were The crab Dissodactylus crinitichelis obtained by free diving in the subtidal zone. Moreira, 1901 is typical of the western Only a single specimen of the sand dollar Atlantic, ranging from the USA to Argentina showed an associated pea crab. The host (Rathbun, 1918, (as D. encopei); Martins and and the symbiont were photographed and D’lncao, 1996; Fumis et al., 2006). It has been immediately placed in a plastic bag containing observed maintaining symbiotic relationships sea water and then taken to the laboratory. with several species of irregular echinoids, Posteriorly they were photographed and fixed such as the spatangoid Meoma ventricosa in 70% ethanol. The material was deposited (Lamarck, 1816) and the clypeasteroids Encope in the Crustacean Collection of the Museu de emarginata (Leske, 1778); E. michelini Agassiz, Zoologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia 1841; Clypeaster subdepressus (Gray, 1825); and (UFBA 430) Leodia sexiesperforata (Leske, 1778) (Rathbun, 1918; Telford, 1978; 1982; Campos and Solís- Marín, 1998; Wirtz et al., 2009). Results and Discussion In Brazil, the first report of an association with D. crinitichelis was provided Dissodactylus crinitichelis Moreira, 1901 by Coelho and Ramos-Porto (1995) for Encope (Fig. 1F) sp.; Martins and D’lncao (1996) cited the associations of the crab with E. emarginata, Dissodactylus crinitichelis Moreira, 1901. Mellita sp., Clypeaster sp. and Luidia sp.; finally, - Rathbun, 1933: 83. - Rodrigues da Costa, Wirtz et al. (2009) mentioned the relationship 1969: 260. - Coelho and Ramos, 1972: 196. with Meoma ventricosa in Espirito Santo State. - Fenucci, 1975:172. - Powers, 1977:1 20. Previous records show that the sand - Williams, 1984:438. - Melo, 1985:1 23. - dollar Leodia sexiesperforata is restricted to the Abele and Kim, 1986:64. - Griffith, 1987:412. Americas, ranging from North Carolina (USA) - Martins and D’incao, 1996: 4. - Campos and to Uruguay (Telford and Mooi, 1986). Along Solís-Marín, 1998: 330. - Almeida et al., 2010: the Brazilian coast there are records from 358. Paraiba to Rio de Janeiro (Alves and Cerqueira, Dissodactylus encopei; Rathbun, 1901: 2000; Magalhães et al., 2005; Ventura et al., 22. - Rathbun 1918: 119. - Williams, et al., 2006; 2007; Gondim et al., 2008; Manso et al., 1968:56. 2008). Despite this geographical distribution, all reports of the association of D. crinitichelis Dissodactylus crinitichelis is characterized with this irregular echinoid are restricted to by an almost flat carapace that shows a smooth the Caribbean (Telford, 1978; 1982 - Rockley surface. The length to width ratio of the carapace Beach, Bridgetown, Barbados - 13°04’24”N, is 0.75:1. The third maxilliped covers the oral 59°35’18”W; Campos and Solis-Marin, 1998 cavity completely. The propodus shows a small - Cuba - 21°30’30”N, 77°46’26”W). The Nauplius 19(1): 63-70, 2011 65 dactyl and articulates in the second half of the explained as an evidence of its survival strategy inferior margin. The pereopods are short and due to its mode of living. strong. Outer maxilliped palp is 3-segmented. The family Pinnotheridae is usually Telson forms an equilateral triangle. Females considered as parasitic or at least semi- bear all abdominal segments distinct. All these parasitic. In this context, the dactyli bifid seem characteristics confirm the identification of the adequate, because they have no clear change specimen provided by the literature (Morreira, in morphology to adapt themselves to a 1901; Rathbun, 1918; Martins and D’lncao, parasitic lifestyle (Telford, 1978). Dissodactylus 1996). A relevant point, according to Griffith crinitichelis is always characterized as irregular (1987a), is the similarity of D. crinitichelis and urchin’s symbiont, however there are very few D. latus Griffith, 1987. However, according studies clarifying the correct association of the to the same author, the mean width to length species and its sand dollar hosts. ratio of carapace provides enough bases to Pohle and Telford (1981) state that D. distinguish both species (1.43 ± 0.03 D. crinitichelis is an obligate parasite because it crinitichelis and 1.66 ± 0.05 to D. latus). requires a nearby host to complete its larval development. However, the authors also Leodia sexiesperforata (Leske, 1778) say that sub-adults and adults stages seem (Figs. 1 A-E) to be facultative parasites. In a subsequent study, Telford (1982a), based on cheliped Echinodiscus sexies perforatus Leske, 1778: 199. morphology, stomach contents of the pea Scutella sexforis Lamarck, 1816: 9. - crabs and spine allometry of sand dollars, Desmoulins, 1837: 70. defines the relationship as parasitism, showing Mellita hexapora Agassiz, 1841: 41. - Agassiz that approximately 80% of the food obtained and Desor, 1846: 138. by the crab comes from the host. Mellita similis Agassiz, 1841: 43. However studies carried out by these Leodia richardsonii Gray, 1851: 36. authors (Pohle and Telford, 1981; Telford, Mellita erythraea Gray, 1851: 36. 1982a) are exclusively based on data from Mellita sexiesperforata Bernasconi, 1941: 107. L. sexiesperforata as a single host. Since D. Mellita platensis: Bernasconi, 1947: 117. crinitichelis is recorded as symbiont of four other species of irregular sea urchins (M. ventricosa, The sand dollar Leodia sexiesperforata E. emarginata, E. michelini, C. subdepressus), it (Leske, 1778) can be identified by the presence is important to investigate firstly if there is a of six closed, narrow and elongated lunules preference of the pea crab for one of the sand (five ambulacrals and one interambulacral). dollars and secondly whether D. crinitichelis The testis