An annotated and illustrated checklist of the porcelain crabs of Panama (Decapoda: Anomura)

The present study is the first exhaustive checklist of porcelain crabs (Porcellanidae) distributed on the Pacific and Atlantic (Caribbean) coasts of Panama, based on literature records and material collected between 2006 and 2019. The Panamanian porcellanid fauna is currently composed of a total of 76 species, with 26 species reported from the Caribbean coast, 45 species reported from the Pacific coast, and five species reported from both sides of the Central American Isthmus (Isthmus of Panama). In other words, the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama each harbour, respectively, 31 and 50 species of porcellanid crabs. However, this total includes two problematic porcellanid records from Panama, viz. Clastotoechus nodosus (Streets, 1872) and Petrolisthes brachycarpus Sivertsen, 1933, as well as a putatively undecribed taxon reported as Pachycheles sp. The following four species are recorded for the first time from Panama, viz. Euceramus panatelus Glassell, 1938, Pachycheles riisei (Stimpson, 1859) [also being new for Mexico], Petrolisthes dissimulatus Gore, 1983 and P. tonsorius Haig, 1960. In addition, Minyocerus kirki Glassell, 1938 is newly recorded from Colombia, extending its previously known distributional range significantly southwards. Most species are illustrated in colour, several for the first time, based on material from Panama or other localities. At least 20 further species (16 in the Atlantic, 5 in the Pacific, and 1 in both oceans) are suspected to occur in Panamanian waters, based on their records from the neighbouring Costa Rica and/or Colombia, or their wide distribution in the Caribbean Sea or the tropical eastern Pacific. The presence of several cryptic or pseudocryptic species (at least some of them presumably undescribed), especially in the taxonomically challenging Petrolisthes galathinus (Bosc, 1802) species complex, or the eventual species splitting within some taxa currently seen as transisthmian, will likely further increase the total number of species present in Panama. The porcellanid fauna of Panama is also ecologically remarkably diversified. Most Panamanian porcelain crabs are free-living under rocks, in crevices of rocks, dead coral heads, coralline algae, coral rubble etc., or on mud, among mangrove roots. Euceramus panatelus lives in possibly self-dug burrows in soft mud or muddy sand, whereas its congener E. transversilineatus (Lockington, 1878) may occasionally be found in association with holothuroids. At least 15 further porcellanid species occurring in Panama live in permanent or facultative associations with a variety of other marine organisms, including sponges, cnidarians (octocorals), echinoderms (sea urchins, sea stars, sea cucumbers), polychaetes (parchment worms) and other decapod crustaceans (hermit crabs), making them one of the most attractive groups for studies of symbiosis-related behaviour and evolution.

REGISTRO DE DEFORMIDADE MORFOLÓGICA OCASIONADA POR PARASITO EM Pachychelles greeleyi Hathbung, 1900

Among the most abundant organisms in marine regions are crustaceans. Arthropod group that presents high ecological and morphological diversification. Representatives of this group include the Porcellanidae family, made up of organisms known as porcelain crabs. Pachycheles greeleyi is a endemic anomura from the northeast coast of Brazil, belonging to the Porcellanidae family and found in various substrates such corals and sandstone reefs formed by polychaetes. P. greeleyi specimens were collected from a beach in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and evaluated when the deformities present in their carapaces due to the presence of the parasite Aporobopyrus curtatus.

New records of decapod crustaceans from Kuwait (Malacostraca: Decapoda)

Seventeen species of shrimp-like decapod crustaceans (infraorders Caridea, Axiidea and Gebiidea) and two species of porcelain crabs (infraorder Anomura) are recorded for the first time from Kuwait, some of them also representing new records for the Arabian Gulf. The new records from Kuwait are: (1) Alpheus edamensis De Man, 1888; (2) Alpheus edwardsii (Audouin, 1826); (3) Alpheus macrodactylus Ortmann, 1890; (4) Alpheus maindroni Coutière, 1898; (5) Arete indicus Coutière, 1903; (6) Athanas parvus De Man, 1910; (7) Synalpheus gracilirostris De Man, 1910 [all Alpheidae]; (8) Latreutes mucronatus (Stimpson, 1860) [Hippolytidae]; (9) Thor paschalis (Heller, 1862) [Thoridae] (10) Periclimenella pettithouarsii (Audouin, 1826); (11) Anchistus custos (Forskål, 1775); (12) Urocaridella pulchella Yokes & Galil, 2006 [all Palaemonidae]; (13) Chlorocurtis jactans (Nobili, 1904) [Chlorotocellidae]; (14) Upogebia carinicauda (Stimpson, 1860); (15) Upogebia octoceras Nobili, 1904 [Upogebiidae]; (16) Balsscallichirus masoomi (Tirmizi, 1970), (17) Michaelcallianassa indica Sakai, 2002 [Callianassidae]; (18) Raphidopus persicus Ng, Safaie & Naser, 2012 and Polyonyx obesulus Miers, 1884 [Porcellanidae]. Most of these taxa have been previously recorded from other parts of the Arabian Gulf, mainly from the coasts of Iran and the United Arab Emirates, except for A. maindroni and U. pulchella, which are recorded from the Arabian Gulf for the first time. Most species are shown in colour photographs, some for the first time. In addition, the presence of Synalpheus quinquedens Tattersall, 1921 (Alpheidae), previously known from Kuwait based only on a questionable record in a popular field guide, is confirmed based on a single collected and preserved specimen.

Host Range of the Mikrocytid Parasite Paramikrocytos canceri in Decapod Crustaceans

Mikrocytids are a widespread but rather neglected group of parasites of aquatic invertebrates. One such parasite is Paramikrocytos canceri—discovered to infect the antennal gland of the juvenile edible crab, Cancer pagurus, taken from several intertidal sites across the United Kingdom. To determine if this parasite is also present in other species of decapod crustaceans, we surveyed crabs (n = 330) across two contrasting sites in Pembrokeshire (UK). Using a histopathological approach, P. canceri infection was confirmed in variable numbers of edible crabs from both survey sites, 7–44%. No measurable signs of infection were encountered in four other co-located species, including European shore crabs (Carcinus maenas), Montagu’s crabs (Xantho hydrophilus), velvet swimming crabs (Necora puber) and broad-clawed porcelain crabs (Porcellana platycheles). These data imply that P. canceri has a more limited host range than suggested by molecular diagnosis alone.

NEW RECORDS FOR PORCELLANID CRABS (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA: ANOMURA: PORCELLANIDAE) IN THE WEST INDIAN ISLANDS, WITH DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS AND ECOLOGICAL NOTES

New records and extensions of the distribution range of seven species of porcellanid crabs, representing four genera, are reported in the West Indian Islands: Megalobrachium mortenseni, M. poeyi, M. roseum, Pachycheles ackleianus, P. riisei, Petrolisthes rosariensis and Porcellana sayana. The analyzed species are deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, and the American Museum of Natural History. It is provided new records from Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and The Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Diagnostic characters and ecological notes are given for each species.Keywords: Biodiversity, Caribbean islands, range extension, porcelain crabs, west Indies.

Redescription of the Mediterranean endemic parasitic isopod Anuropodione amphiandra (Codreanu, Codreanu & Pike, 1966) n. comb. (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae) from Munida rutllanti Zariquiey Alvarez, 1952, with new records from Turkey and a review of the genus Anuropodione Bourdon, 1967

Seven species of bopyrid isopods were previously known from Turkish Mediterranean waters; a purported eighth species, Orthione griffenis Markham, 2004, is based on incorrect identification and likely represent Epipenaeon ingens ingens Nobili, 1906, a species already known from the area. In the present study, we report on specimens referable to Pleurocrypta amphiandra Codreanu, Codreanu & Pike, 1966, infesting Munida rutllanti Zariquiey Alvarez, 1952, collected from the southern Aegean Sea off Turkey; this species was formerly known only from the Mediterranean off Algeria and the Adriatic Sea. The species is redescribed and illustrated for the first time and transferred to Anuropodione Bourdon, 1967, which is reviewed and A. australiensis Bourdon, 1976, is transferred to Allorbimorphus Bourdon, 1976. A key to all species of Anuropodione and a list of all bopyrids found on squat lobsters and porcelain crabs in the Mediterranean are provided.