07.04.2013 Views

CRABS (BRACHYURA) OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

CRABS (BRACHYURA) OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

CRABS (BRACHYURA) OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Crabs of the Gulf of Mexico 131<br />

As P. cyaneus—Chace, 1951, pp. G5-103, figs, lb, 2b, 2e, 2h, 2in-o, 3i-ii; Chace<br />

1966, p. 646; Sakai, 1965, p. 197, pi. 93, figs. 3-4; Felder, 1973a, p. 78, pi. 11, fig. 1.<br />

Range: rare occurrence in Texas; south Atlantic, at St. Helena Island and<br />

off west coast of Africa; throughout eastern Pacific and westward to the northwestern<br />

Pacific and Indian Ocean.<br />

Habitat: pelagic, on floating objects, debris, and gulfweed; open ocean, but<br />

occasionally washed up with flotsam onto beaches.<br />

Remarks: Chace (1951) provided a definitive taxonomic review, but this crab<br />

was considered at that time to be confined to the Pacific Ocean. In 1966, Chace<br />

reported it from St. Helena Island in the south Atlantic and noted that Barnard's<br />

(1950) citations of P. minuius from South Africa may have been partly or entirely<br />

records of P. cyaneus. Crosnier (1967) reported this crab from West Africa.<br />

Shirley (1974) found two specimens washed up on the beaches at Padre<br />

Island, Texas, in driftwood. This species should be considered extralimital for<br />

the Gulf of Mexico, although re-examination of Planes in collections may reveal<br />

additional specimens of this species.<br />

Subfamily PLAGUSIINAE Dana, 1851<br />

Percnon Gistel, 1848<br />

Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 3, Zool. 20:<br />

146 and 180)<br />

Common Name: Spray Crab<br />

Rathbun, 1918, p. 337, pi. 105; Rathbun, 1933, p. 93; fig. 88; Schmitt, 1939, p. 24;<br />

Garth, 1965, p. 34; Williams, 1965, p. 224.<br />

Range: North Carolina, Bermuda; Bahamas, south Florida; Florida Keys;<br />

north coast of Cuba.; Jamaica; Puerto Rico; Colon, Panama; Brazil; eastern Atlantic,<br />

from the Azores to South Africa; eastern Pacific, from Baja California to<br />

Chile; Galapagos Islands; Clipperton Island.<br />

Habitat: low tide zone of rocky areas; surf zone, on rock and pebble bottoms,<br />

commensal with Diadema in Puerto Rico.<br />

Remarks: Rathbun (1918) questioned the inclusion of the Pacific and Atlantic<br />

populations of this crab into one species, but subsequent authors have treated<br />

them as identical. Verrill (1908) commented on this crab in Bermuda and Hartnoil<br />

(1965b) described its biology and ecology in Jamaica. Garth (1946) described<br />

it from the Galapagos Islands. Schmitt (1939) provided the key characters<br />

for the genus. The habitat and color of Brazilian specimens was provided<br />

byFaustoFilho (1974).<br />

PZagMsia La treille, 1806<br />

Plagusiadepressa (Fabricius, 1775) (Syst. entom., 1775), p. 406<br />

Common Name: Cliff Crab<br />

Rathbun, 1918, p. 332, text-fig. 154, pi. 101; Rathbun, 1933, p. 93, fig. 87; Monod,

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!