Carlos Lira

Molecular phylogeny of enigmatic Caribbean spider crabs from the Mithrax–Mithraculus species complex (Brachyura: Majidae: Mithracinae): ecological diversity and a formal test of genera monophyly

STRI ; Marine biology ; Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet ; forces of Change

The Enigmatic Life History of the Symbiotic Crab Tunicotheres moseri (Crustacea, Brachyura, Pinnotheridae): Implications for Its Mating System and Population Structure

Resource-monopolization theory predicts the adoption of a solitary habit in species using scarce, discrete, and small refuges. Life-history theory suggests that temporarily stable parental dwellings favor extended parental care in species that brood embryos. We tested these two predictions with the symbiotic crab Tunicotheres moseri. This species exhibits abbreviated development and inhabits the atrial chamber of the scarce, structurally simple, long-lived, and relatively small ascidian Phalusia nigra in the Caribbean. These host characteristics should favor a solitary habit and extended parental care (EPC) in T. moseri. As predicted, males and females of T. moseri inhabited ascidians solitarily with greater frequency than expected by chance alone. The male-female association pattern and reverse sexual dimorphism (males < females) additionally suggests a promiscuous “pure-search” mating system in T. moseri. Also in agreement with theoretical considerations, T. moseri displays EPC; in addition to embryos, females naturally retain larval stages, megalopae, and juveniles within their brooding pouches. This is the first record of EPC in a symbiotic crab and the second confirmed record of EPC in a marine brachyuran crab. This study supports predictions central to resource-monopolization and life-history theories.

Inventory of ascidians (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) from the National Park La Restinga, Isla Margarita, Venezuela

Although ascidians form a conspicuous part of sessile assemblages in the Caribbean, no specialized inventories have been developed in Venezuela, except for a list of 15 species reported from Margarita Island (1984). Here we present the results of a taxonomic workshop held in the Universidad de Oriente, Boca del Rio, Margarita Island during April 20-25 of 2009, sponsored by the NaGISA-Caribbean Sea program. La Restinga National park was surveyed and we found 29 species belonging to 19 genera and 10 families. The most abundant colonial species were Clavelina oblonga, Aplidium accarense, Polyclinum constellatum, Distaplia bermudensis, Symplegma rubra, S. brakenhielmi, Botrylloides nigrum and Ecteinascidia turbinata. Among the solitary ascidians Phallusia nigra, Ascidia curvata, Microcosmus exasperatus, Styela canopus, Styela sp.1 and Styela sp. 2 were the most abundant. The ascidian diversity in this lagoon is one of the highest for similar habitats in the Caribbean and seven species are new registers for Venezuela (Ascidia curvata, Ecteinascidia styeloides, Aplidium accarense, Distaplia stylifera, Trididemnum orbiculatum, Symplegma rubra, and S. brakenhielmi). One point of concern for the conservation of la Restinga National Park is the presence of possible introduced species, and some management procedures are suggested.

A case of leg malformation in the Atlantic ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Decapoda, Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Morphological anomalies have been documented in several groups of arthropods, including fossils (Trilobites: Babcock, 1993; Lee et al., 2001; Chilopoda: Leśniewska, 2004; Mitić & Makarov, 2007; Insecta: Balazuc, 1948, 1969; Frank, 1981; Asiain & Márquez, 2009; and Crustacea: Dexter, 1954; Heerebout, 1969; Ros & Quiñones, 1981). In the Crustacea, putative processes or conditions causing malformations include injuries (e.g., on the carapace: Dexter, 1954; Riedl, 1975; Shelton et al., 1981); parasitic diseases, including viral infections (Primavera & Quinitio, 2000); somatic mutations or the erroneous result of morphogenetic processes (von Vaupel Klein & Koomen, 1993); contaminants (Weis et al., 1992); and exposure to extreme environmental conditions such as low temperatures (Pandourski & Evtimova, 2009). In decapods, malformations are commonly reported for the chelipeds, with lateral processes having been recorded in Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus, 1758) (cf. Heerebout, 1969); Erimacrus isenbeckii (Brandt, 1848), Chionoecetes opilio (Fabricius, 1788) (cf. Suzuki & Odawara, 1971); Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (cf. Nakatani et al., 1992); Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1885) (cf. Nickerson & Gray, 1963); Menippe mercenaria (Say, 1818) (cf. Ros & Quiñones, 1981) and Pachycheles serratus (Benedict, 1901) (cf. Lira et al., 2003), among others. Chelipeds are commonly used as weapons during agonistic interactions and to halt attacks by predators. Thus, injuries (subsequently producing malformations) might be expected in chelipeds with a greater frequency than in other body appendages like maxilipeds or walking legs. Furthermore, chelipeds are the

First record of Stenocionops spinosissimus (De Saussure, 1857) (Decapoda, Mithracidae) in Venezuelan waters

Majoids crabs are relatively well-know in shallow waters of Venezuela (Marcano & Bolaños, 2001), but under 60 m depth there are few records for the area. Stenocionops spinosissimus (De Saussure, 1857), has been reported from North Carolina, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Colombia, Guyana, and Brazil (Rathbun, 1925; Powers, 1977; Takeda & Okutani, 1983; Melo, 1996; Cruz & Campos, 2003) in a depth range of 90-480 m. In an artisanal fishery on Margarita Island, three specimens of S. spinosissimus were collected at 190 m depth, representing the first record for Venezuela. Carapace length (CL) was measured from the rostral spines to the posterior end of the cephalotorax. The morphological characters agree adequately with the description of Rathbun (1925) and with the diagnosis of Melo (1996) for this species, and consequently no further description is presented. The material collected is deposited in the Museo Marino de Margarita and in the Laboratorio de Carcinología, Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas del Mar, Universidad de Oriente, Margarita Island, Venezuela (GIC 0335).

Sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia, Ceriantharia, Zoanthidea) from marine shallow-water environments in Venezuela: new records and an updated inventory

BackgroundThis study compiles the diversity of sea anemones in different shallow habitats (i.e. rocky shores, coral reefs, mangroves and sandy bottoms) in several locations of Venezuela, including the most important marine reserves of Venezuela: Morrocoy National Park, Mochima National Park, Archipiélago de Los Roques National Park, Laguna de La Restinga National Park, Isla de Cubagua, and Chichiriviche de la Costa.ResultsTwenty-six species of sea anemones sensu lato were documented, from which only two actiniarian species are newly recorded in Venezuela. In addition, specimens of the scientific collection of the Museo Oceanológico Hermano Benigno Román, of Isla de Margarita, Venezuela, were examined and its taxonomic status updated.ConclusionsThe diversity of sea anemones in Venezuela is updated to 44 species. An illustrated guide of living specimens and short descriptions of the external anatomy of the specimens is included to facilitate sea anemone species identification in the field and to provide a base line for ecological studies that require accurate identification to species level.

A case of malformation on the third maxilliped of Uca rapax (Smith, 1870) (Decapoda: Ocypodidae)

This paper evaluates the malformation in the left third maxilliped of a specimen of the fiddler crab Uca rapax from Venezuela. There are some hypotheses and the cause of the malformation remains unknown, but the results are indicative that is most likely due to errors in morphogenetic processes.

Systematics and biogeography of Cuban porcelain crabs (Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae)

Marine crustaceans are a well-known invertebrates group in Cuban waters, but some taxa are not well catalogued and the literature about them is scattered. In this work, we present the checklist of porcelain crabs of Cuban Archipelago, including the literature registers and unpublished authors data. A key to the identification of 8 genera and 23 species of the Cuban porcelain crabs is provided. Information about the local distribution of species is presented. In addition, we analyzed the porcelain crab faunal affinities between the ecoregions of the Cuban platform, Greater Antilles islands and the Tropical Northwestern Atlantic (TNA) province. For the first time, we record the presence of the monotypic genus Parapetrolisthes Haig in Cuba. On the Cuban platform, the highest similarities are between the Southcentral and Northwestern ecoregions (50%) and between Northcentral and Northeastern (40%). In the Greater Antilles, Cuba and Puerto Rico are the most similar (54%), but in general, the porcelain crab composition shows a high variation (e. g. 19% between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico). In the Tropical Northwestern Atlantic, five homogeneous groups of porcelain crab species are distinguished. Cuban fauna is most similar to that of Floridian, Western Caribbean and Southern Gulf of Mexico ecoregions. The decrease in species richness is evident from south to north in the TNA Province.

Primer hallazgo de Nibilia antilocapra (Stimpson, 1871) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Epialtidae) para Venezuela

Seven specimens of Nibilia antilocapra were collected in Margarita Island, Venezuela. This is the first record of N. antilocapra for Venezuela, and for the south Caribbean area. Nibilia antilocapra can be separated from other species of the family Epialtidae by the following features: wide postorbital tooth forming a cup, supraocular eave and postocular cup well separated, with a small tooth between them. Carapace pyriform, longer than wide, with several spines of different size on the surface. Chelipeds stouter than the walking leg, the formers diminish gradually in size. Four species of the subfamily Pisinae have been recorded for Venezuela marine waters.