An updated checklist of decapod crustaceans (infraorders Astacidea, Thalassinidea, Polychelida, Palinura, and Anomura) from the northern and northeastern Brazilian coast

Abstract

A checklist of the decapod crustacean species from the infraorders Astacidea, Thalassinidea, Polychelida, Palinura, and Anomura from the northern and northeastern (N/NE) Brazilian coast based on literature and material deposited in the carcinological collection of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil, is provided. The list includes marine and estuarine species reported at least once to each of the studied area, including the oceanic islands and banks along the N/NE Brazil. A total of 146 species is reported, corresponding to an increase of 32.7% when compared to the data published in Paulo Young’s Catalogue (1998). The most representative infraorder concerning number of species is Anomura, represented in N/NE Brazil by 90 species and 10 families, followed by Thalassinidea, with 36 species and 6 families, Palinura, with 14 species and 4 families and, finally, Astacidea, which comprises 6 species and 2 families. Families with highest species richness were Porcellanidae (20), Diogenidae (19), Paguridae (18) and Galatheidae (15), all of them included in the infraorder Anomura. Zoogeographic affinities regarding the species are briefly discussed

Decapod assemblages in subtidal and intertidal zones—Importance of scuba diving as a survey technique in tropical reefs, Brazil

“…The Brachyura followed by Caridea and Anomura represented the richest taxa in each sampled shore zone and for the studied reef system, similar to the findings described by Coelho et al (2002) for the Pernambuco State in the northeast of Brazil (Coelho et al, , 2007 and globally by De . In addition, similar findings to those described in this research, show certain some taxa, such as; Alpheidae for Caridea and Majidae for Brachyura are prolific in numbers in Pernambuco State (Coelho et al, 2002(Coelho et al, , 2007 and in the world .…”

“…In addition, similar findings to those described in this research, show certain some taxa, such as; Alpheidae for Caridea and Majidae for Brachyura are prolific in numbers in Pernambuco State (Coelho et al, 2002(Coelho et al, , 2007 and in the world . This proliferation has a long historical record for decapods in the ocean, with changes in speciation according ocean changes over a long period of time coupled with high adaptive values for groups with higher diversity; such as efficient body shape, productive strategies in obtaining food reproduction and defense (Távora et al, 2010).…”

“…The remainder of species sampled in Pernambuco state-Brazil (Coelho et al, 2002(Coelho et al, , 2007 reported here have specimens deposited at the oceanographic museum in Dr. Pertonio Alves Coelho collection at the Federal University of Pernambuco (MOUFPE).…”

“…The absence or presence of decapod species within a specific zone can be an indicator of environmental disturbance from physicochemical or anthropic inputs. Mainly because the decapods represent one of the most important taxon in the marine ecosystem, being a key group in trophic relations within all marine trophic chains (Abele, 1974;Melo, 1996Melo, , 1999Coelho et al, 2006Coelho et al, , 2007Coelho et al, , 2008De Grave et al, 2009;Dubinsky and Stambler, 2011).…”

“…In particular the decapods, which present high species diversity, are an important component in trophic dynamics and are also an important fishery resource throughout the world (Randall, 1967;Abele, 1974;Melo, 1996Melo, , 1999Coelho et al, 2006Coelho et al, , 2007Coelho et al, , 2008De Grave et al, 2009;Dubinsky and Stambler, 2011).…”