Extension of the geographical distribution of some brachyuran and porcellanid decapods (Crustacea) to the coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Investigations of the distribution of marine organisms provide a better understanding of the patterns of distribution and dispersal of these animals. Extensions of the distributional limits of decapod crustaceans in Brazilian waters have been recorded steadily and gradually, but these limits still remain poorly understood. The present study provides information extending the known range of eight species of brachyuran crabs and one species of porcellanid crab. The animals were obtained by Scuba diving during a sampling program carried out near Vitória Island, Ilhabela, on the northeastern coast of the State of São Paulo (23º44'04"S-45º01'35"W) between February, 2004 and January, 2005. These new records extend the geographical distributions of the porcellanid Petrolisthes amoenus (Guérin Menéville, 1855), the majoids Mithrax caribbaeus Rathbun, 1920, Mithrax verrucosus H. Milne Edwards, 1832, Nemausa acuticornis (Stimpson, 1871) and Teleophrys ornatus Rathbun, 1901, and the xanthoids Domecia acanthophora acanthophora (Desbonne & Schramm, 1867), Garthiope spinipes (A. Milne Edwards, 1880), Xanthodius denticulatus (White, 1847) and Xanthodius parvulus (Fabricius, 1793) to the São Paulo coast. These new records may be related to different mechanisms of larval dispersal, larval transport by ballast water, or may simply be exceptional records.

Composition and spatial distribution of subtidal decapoda on the "Reef Coast", northeastern Brazil, evaluated through a low-impact visual census technique

“…On hard bottoms such as coral reefs, the decapod crustaceans are one of the most important groups of benthic macrofauna (Abele, 1974;1976;Abele and Patton, 1976;Martínez-Iglesias and García-Raso, 1999;Alves et al, 2006). They range from inconspicuous to large forms, including shrimps, lobsters and crabs, and are distinguished by their high diversity and their importance in fisheries and trophic dynamics in these environments (Randall, 1967;Dubinsky and Stambler, 2011).…”

Mithracinae (Decapoda: Brachyura) from the Brazilian coast: review of the geographical distribution and comments on the biogeography of the group

“…Nemausa acuticornis (Stimpson, 1871) -Geographic distribution: Western Atlantic -From North Carolina to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Antilles and Brazil (Fernando de Noronha, Rocas and from Amapá to São Paulo) (Melo, 1998;Coelho-Filho, 2006;Alves et al, 2006).…”

“…Several accounts of species-introduction events, as well as extensions of geographical distribution, have been reported for crustaceans along the Brazilian coast (e.g. Melo, 1990;Melo et al, 2000;Ramos-Porto et al, 2000;Targino et al, 2001;Cobo et al, 2002;Almeida et al, 2003;Bezerra et al, 2005;Alves et al, 2006). Despite these reports, studies that review the geographical distribution of some groups of decapods on the Brazilian coast are still relatively few, limiting the comprehension of the present extent of the biota along this coast.…”

Range extensions along western Atlantic for Epialtidae crabs (Brachyura, Majoidea) genera Acanthonyx Latreille, 1828 and Epialtus H. Milne Edwards, 1834

“…Dias 1999, Mantelatto et al, 2001;Cobo et al, 2002;Alves et al, 2006;Camargo et al, 2010;Almeida et al, in press). Range extensions of the epialtid crabs A. dissimulatus, E. bituberculatus and E. brasiliensis were relevant mainly for biogeographic and taxonomic studies.…”