CRABS (BRACHYURA) OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

Crabs of the Gulf of Mexico 97
of behavior include those on mating (Flartnoll, 1969; Savage, 1971b), stridulation
(Guinot-Dumortier and Dumortier, 1960), and shadow responses of larvae
(Forward, 1977). Physiological research includes data on hormonal control of
reproduction (Cheung, 1967, 1969), respiration in relation to habitat (A3a'es,
1938), gill area measurements (Gray, 1957), respiration and metabolism
(Leffler, 1973), respiration and osmoregulation (Karandieva and Lee, 1967),
and digestion and energjr balance (Suchenia and Claro Madruga, 1967).
Information on growth, molting, and fisheries includes reports by Manning
(1961), Savage and McMahan (1968), Savage (1971a), and Savage, Sullivan
and Kalman (1974, 1975). Cheung (1973, 1976) studied regeneration of claws
in relation to molting. Menzel and Hopkins (1956) described predation of stone
crabs on oysters in Louisiana. Iversen and Beardsley (1976) studied shell disease
in south Florida populations. Humes (1941a) noted the presence of a parasitic
barnacle.
Regional lists include Florida (Wass, 1955; Tabb and Manning, 1961;
Dragovich and Kelly, 1964; Abele, 1970; Menzel, 1971; Lyons et al., 1971),
Mississippi (Richmond, 1962; Franks et al., 1972; Christmas and Langley, 1973),
Louisiana (Behre, 1950; Hoese and Valentine, 1972), Texas (Gunter, 1950;
Whitten, Rosene and Hedgpeth, 1950; Hedgpeth, 1953; Hildebrand, 1954; Simmons,
1957; Parker, 1959; Hoese, I960; Leary, 1967), and the northeastern
Gulf (Chace, 1956).
Menippe nodifrons Stimpson, 1859 (Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York 7: 53)
Rathbun, 1930, p. 479, pi. 198, fig. 3, pi. 199.
Range: east coast of Florida; ? Louisiana; north and south coasts of Cuba;
Jamaica; Virgin Islands; Trinidad; Caribbean coasts of Panama and Colombia;
Paraiba to Sao Francisco do Sul, Brazil; Gabon, West Africa.
Depth: shallow water, near shore.
Habitat: tide pools; under rocks; near dock pilings; on sponges and among
brji-Qzoans.
Remarks: Rathbun's (1930) record of this crab from Louisiana has been questioned
by Felder (1973a) because extensive collecting along the northwestern
Gulf coast has produced no further specimens. The only other Gulf record would
be that of a single male collected near Havana, Cuba (Rathbun, 1930).
Micropanope Stimpson, 1871
(As restricted by Guinot (1967a, 1968b), this genus would include only
the type species, M. sculptipes Stimpson, and one other, leaving a number
of species formerly in Micropanope without an apparent generic name.
Following a suggestion of Garth (pers. comm.), this list retains these
orphaned species, not included in other genera by Guinot, as members of
Micropanope, pending further clarification of their taxonomic status.)
Micropanope barbadensis (Rathbun, 1921) (Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. State Univ.
Iowa 9: 73), novo comb. Rathbun, 1930 (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 152: 446)
iO Rathbun, 1930, p. -M-G, text-fig. 72.