CRABS (BRACHYURA) OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

Persephona I^each, 1817
Persephona aquilonaris Rathbun, 1933.
Crabs of the Gulf of Mexico 39
This name was given to the western Atlantic species, including the Gulf of
Mexico form, orginally to indicate a subspecies of P. punctata. A revision of the
genus by Guinot-Dumortier (1959) indicated that the two forms were distinct
species and she extended the range through the Caribbean to South America,
where it co-exists with P. punctata. Rathbun (1937) had restricted P. punctata
aquilonaris to North America. At the same time as her revision, Guinot-
Dumortier (1959) indicated that the species illustrated by Herbst, P. mediterranean
may be the correct name of P. aquilonaris. Rathbun (1937, p. 153) listed
P. mediterranea as a synonym of P. punctata, but she indicated that the type
locality (Mediterranean Sea) was probably incorrect. Abele (1970) reviews the
synonymy and notes that L. B. Holthuis verified the identity and synonymy of
P. mediterranea and P. aquilonaris. Abele (1970) also notes that the figure in
Rathbun (1933, p. 99, fig. 94) for P. punctata from Puerto Rico is a figure of P.
mediterranea.
Persephona crinila Rathbun, 1931 (J. Washington Acad. Sci. 21: 128)
Rathbun, 1937, p. 163, pi. 43, figs. 2-3, pi. 4-4', figs. 1-3; Felder, 1973a, p. 39, pi. 5,
fig. 3.
Range: northwest Florida to Texas; Trinidad; Ilha Sao Sebastiao, Brazil.
Depth: 5.5 to 91 m (3 to 50 fm).
Habitat: mud and mud-sand bottoms; more common in open marine waters
than is P. mediterranea.
Remarks: Hildebrand (1954) collected an ovigerous female from off Texas in
June. Wass (1955) stated that this species is rarer than P. aquilonaris (^ P.
mediterranea) off northwest Florida and Menzel (1971) listed this crab as
uncommon on sand bottoms in the same area. Franks et al. (1972) extended the
known depth range to 50 fm, from collections off Mississippi. Listed from the
Gulf collections of the R/V Oregon by Chace (1956).
Persephona mediterranea (Herbst, 1794) (Versuch Naturgesch. Krabben u.
Krebse,voI.2,p. 150)
Common Name: Purse Crab
As P. punclala—Hay & Shore, 1918, p. 423, pi. 32, fig. 9 (part); Rathbun, 1933,
p. 99 (part), fig. 94.
As P. punctata aquilonaris—Rathbun, 1937, p. ISA; pi. 42, figs. 6-7; Williams,
1965, p. 150, fig. 127.
As P. aguaonaris—Guinot-Dumortier, 1959, p. 429, figs. 7, 9; Felder, 1973a, p. 42,
pi. 5, fig. 4.
As P. mediterranea—Abele, 1970, p. 62.
Range: New Jersey to south Florida; Dry Tortugas; west coast of Florida to
south Texas; off Campeche, Mexico; Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles; French
Guiana; Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Depth: 4 to 55 m (2 to 30 fm).