J.E. García Raso

Reproductive aspects of females of the hermit crab Diogenes pugilator (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from southern Spain

The ovary structure of the hermit crab Diogenes pugilator (Crustacea: Decapoda), is described in the diierent phases using electron microscopy. Sexual maturity was reached at a very small size; females from 0.74mm shield length (SL) could be found in vitellogenesis stage and even 0.6mm SL ovigerous females exist. The biometric study of the ovigerous females by independent size-class (non-accumulative) shows that 1.3mm SL is the size at which 50% of females are ovigerous; this value is increased a little (1.7^1.8mm) if the population of females, or ovigerous females, is analysed from an accumulative point of view. In addition, an optimal reproductive size (between 2.1and 2.3mm SL) and a reproductive decrease in the maximum size-classes have been detected. The relation between brood size (measured through egg number) and the hermit crab size follows a potential function. The number of eggs by brood varies in a wide range (9^2838), with a mean diameter of 0.350.03mm. No relationship between egg size and shield length has been found.

Considerations On Some Species of Hippolyte (Decapoda, Caridea) From Southern European Waters, H. Niezabitowskii, H. Holthuisi, and H. Varians

[Preliminary samples taken from Zostera marina beds on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain, have allowed us to obtain three species of Hippolyte. One of them, Hippolyte niezabitowskii, represents the first record for Spain and the western Mediterranean. Also, the morphology of the present material shows clear differences with that of specimens from the Adriatic and Ionian seas. A complementary description and some considerations on a presumably subspecific status are given. The capture of many specimens belonging to the complex H. varians-H. holthuisi (H. holthuisi represents a new record for the area) has allowed us to make a comparative analysis between populations from the Alboran Sea and from the Gulf of Cadiz, which has established the existence of consistent differences between these., Preliminary samples taken from Zostera marina beds on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain, have allowed us to obtain three species of Hippolyte. One of them, Hippolyte niezabitowskii, represents the first record for Spain and the western Mediterranean. Also, the morphology of the present material shows clear differences with that of specimens from the Adriatic and Ionian seas. A complementary description and some considerations on a presumably subspecific status are given. The capture of many specimens belonging to the complex H. varians-H. holthuisi (H. holthuisi represents a new record for the area) has allowed us to make a comparative analysis between populations from the Alboran Sea and from the Gulf of Cadiz, which has established the existence of consistent differences between these.]

European Pinnotheridae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura): species, distribution, host use and DNA barcodes

Currently, there are five species of pea crabs in European waters. In the context of the AFROBIV project, in which the effect of the African pea crab Afropinnotheres monodi on bivalve species of commercial interest is being studied, a sampling campaign has been carried out on bivalve species of the coasts of southwestern Europe. The results of this campaign are used in the present study to evaluate the current distribution of A. monodi and its degree of infestation in its various hosts, together with the distribution of native European pinnotherid species. Previously collected information has also been reviewed and included with the present results to establish a baseline so as to enable future changes in distribution and host use of European pinnotherid species to be compared and quantified. To enable the more accurate identification of species and detection of new species in the area, three genetic markers (16S, Cox1, and H3) for the current five European pinnotherid species have also been compiled from Genbank or obtained in the present work. The results showed the high abundance of A. monodi in a significant portion of the area studied. In contrast, few specimens of the native Pinnotheres pectunculi and P. pisum were collected. The northern limit of the current distribution of A. monodi extends to the Sado estuary (Portugal), and the species has been recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean (Alboran Sea). New records of P. pectunculi in the Alboran Sea confirm the presence of this species in the Mediterranean, and considerably expand the known distribution of the species, until now restricted to the coasts of Brittany.