RECORD OF Ostrea puelchana D’ORBIGNY, 1842 (BIVALVIA: OSTREIDAE), AS NEW EPIBIONT IN Eriphia gonagra (FABRICIUS, 1781) (CRUSTACEA: ERIPHIIDAE) FROM NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the first association of the ostreid species Ostrea puelchana d’Orbigny, 1842, as new epibiont in Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781), with material collected in Northeastern Brazil. The specimens of E. gonagra were collected manually in November of 2020 during the low tide in the Barra de Catuama beach, State of Pernambuco. Among 10 specimens collected, only one adult male showed the presence of two commensal specimens of O. puelchana adhered in the epibranchial and antero-lateral regions of the basibiont (right side). The presence of the epibiont O. puelchana on the new host E. gonagra expands the range of the crustacean species potentially used as hosts by this oyster along the Brazilian coast.
 Keywords: marine invertebrates, biological interactions, Pernambuco, commensalism, beachrocks.

TWO IN ONE: REPORT OF TWO EPIBIONTS GROUPS ON THE Callinectes bocourti A. MILNE-EDWARDS, 1879 (DECAPODA: PORTUNIDAE) FROM THE AMAZON PROVINCE

“…As previously observed, the crustacean carapace acts as a hard substrata in aquatic environments, favoring the presence and attachment of epibionts, however, the crustacean species have mechanisms to avoid the adhesion, such as carapace cleaning using oral appendages and chelipeds or burying in the sediment or galleries (BAUER 1989, BECKER;WAHL, 1996;COSTA et al, 2010). In studies provided by Abelló et al (1990), Lima et al (2017) and Alves-Júnior et al (2021;2022), the crustacean carapace acts only as a temporary substrata for the fixation of epibionts, due the process of ecdysis (molting), in which the old carapace is discarded to the environment carrying the epibionts, which are often destroyed by the action of waves, currents, sedimentation or predators. In specimens of C. testudinaria observed herein (Figure 2A), the largest sizes can be related to the high growth rates promoted by the epibionts, specifically to rapidly reach the reproductive period and spread of the planktonic larvae to different regions (due the mobility of swimming crab), before the molting period of the basibiont.…”

“…The occurrence of epibiosis in other semi terrestrial crustaceans, as Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763), E. gonagra or fiddler crabs of the genera Uca Leach, 1814, Minuca Bott, 1953and Leptuca Bott, 1973 from Brazil are rare or non-existent, due the exposition of epibiont to air, high temperatures, sun and desiccation, which can lead the epibiont to death (GILI et al, 1993;ALVES-JÚNIOR et al, 2021).…”

“…The occurrence of epibionts in swimming crabs as C. bocourti may expand the geographic distribution for these sessile animals. They occupy different environments, increasing the species' occurrence area and distribution along estuarine and marine habitats; their larvae have a greater reach and greater food supply along different habitats (LIMA et al, 2017;ALVES-JÚNIOR et al, 2021;2022;KEY Jr. et al 2021). Another positive feature of epibiosis is the ability of the sessile epibiont to escape from predation, for the case of the barnacles and mollusks which are predated by puffer fish, budion, octopus, sea stars or other crabs (KEY Jr. et al 1997;O'CONNOR;NEWMAN, 2001).…”

“…The presence of epibiosis in species of the genus Callinectes Stimpson, 1860 was reported by Ganon and Wheatl (1992), Negreiros-Fransozo et al (1995), Key Jr. et al (1999, Santos and Bueno (2002) and Mantelatto et al (2003), especially with barnacles adhered on carapace, chelipeds and ambulatory legs. According to Marin and Belluga (2005), Lima et al (2017) and Alves-Júnior et al (2021), this fixation favors the supply of food for the epibiont, based on the fact that the basibiont is vagile, on the other hand, for the host, it can be harmful because of the extra weight and friction in the water.…”

“…In addition, the bivalve mollusk Ostrea puelchana d'Orbigny, 1842 was observed as epibiont in some crustaceans such as Callinectes exasperatus (Gerstaecker, 1856) and Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781) (LIMA et al 2011ALVES-JÚNIOR et al, 2021). However, the mollusk species Sphenia fragilis (H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854) is not reported in the literature as epibiont in decapods, being recorded, in Brazil, from Pará to Paraná, on mussel and barnacle beds along the intertidal zone.…”