Diversity and distribution of Chirostyloidea and Galatheoidea (Decapoda, Anomura) in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

We examined the diversity, abundance, distribution, and average size of squat lobsters collected during eight cruises conducted on the continental shelf and slope of the Gulf of Mexico (Mexican/USA border to the Caribbean Sea). Six species belonging to two genera of Chirostyloidea, and 25 species of four genera of Galatheoidea are reported. A total of 1513 specimens were obtained of which 95 were Chirostylidae, two Galatheidae, 285 Munidopsidae, and 1131 Munididae. Of the species collected, 13.8% were only known from Caribbean Sea. Three species of Chirostylidae—Gastroptychus salvadori, Uroptychus capillatus, and Uroptychus spiniger—as well two of Munidopsidae, Munidopsis bradleyi and Munidopsis riveroi, are recorded for the first time in the Gulf of Mexico. The upper bathymetric range of one species and the lower one for eight species are extended. Biological and ecological traits of squat lobsters in the southern Gulf of Mexico are also provided.

Three new species of squat lobsters of the genus Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1874, from Guadeloupe Island, Caribbean Sea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Munidopsidae)

“…The studies on this genus continued with the collections made by the "Alaminos" and other expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (Pequegnat & Pequegnat 1970, 1971Mayo 1972Mayo , 1974Gore 1983;Baba & Camp 1988). More recently, some studies have improved our knowledge on the distribution of the species (Navas et al 2003;Campos et al 2005;Herrera-Medina et al 2014;Vazquez-Bader & Gracia 2016), including the description of some new species (Pequegnat & Williams 1995;Vazquez-Bader et al 2014;Macpherson et al 2016). Thus, 56 species of the genus Munidopsis are currently known in the Western Atlantic.…”

Munidopsis geyeri and M. exuta (Crustacea: Munidopsidae): A study of two deep-sea, amphi-Atlantic species that co-occur in the southern Gulf of Mexico

“…The squat lobsters, Munidopsis exuta M. geyeri Pequegnat &Pequegnat, 1970, occur throughout the Atlantic Ocean at depths between 1700-4151 m (Baba et al 2008;Gaytán-Caballero 2009;Kilgour & Shirley 2014;Navas et al 2013;Vázquez-Bader & Gracia 2016). The present study examined M. exuta and M. geyeri from abyssal depths of the southern Gulf of Mexico, with an emphasis on both molecular and morphological comparisons.…”