A new record of dotillid crab Ilyoplax stevensi Kemp, 1919 Crustacea: Brachyura: Dotillidae Stimpson, 1858) from Shatt Al-Basrah Canal, Iraq

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Introduction

The genus Ilyoplax (Stimpson 1858) currently consists of 28 species in the world. The genus species iswidely distributed in the Indo-Western Pacific region (Davie, and Naruse, 2010; Fatemi, et al., 2011 ;  Kitaura and Wada, 2006; Ng et al., 2008; Trivedi et al., 2015). In the Persian-Arabian Gulf, the genus Ilyoplax is represented by two species Ilyoplax stevensi (Kemp, 1919) and Ilyoplax frater (Kemp, 1919) (Fatemi, et al., 2011; Naderloo, 2017). Comprehensive taxonomic studies have been carried out on Brachyura of species in the Persian-Arabian Gulf, Iraqi coast in recent years such as: (Naser, 2009; Ng et al., 2009; Naser et al., 2010; Naser, 2011; Naser et al., 2012;  Naser et al., 2013;  Naser, 2018;  Naser, 2019; Yasser & Naser, 2019, Yasser & Naser, 2019b).

The present study records significant expansion in the distribution range of the dotillid crab Ilyoplax stevensi in the Persian-Arabian Gulf, Iraqi coast.

Materials and Methods

The Shatt Al-Basrah Canal emerges from the Euphrates River and empties into Khor Al-Zubair, an estuarine lagoon linked to the Persian-Arabian Gulf, located just west of Basrah town (Fig. 1); it is 37 km long and 59 m wide, with a range of between 5 and 7 m in depth (Naser et al., 2010).

Figure 1: Map of the Shatt Al-Basrah Canal at Basrah city, with the location of the sampling site.

The brachyuran crabs inhibiting the intertidal zone were collected during low tide from the muddy intertidal zone of Shatt Al-Basrah Canal northwest Persian-Arabian Gulf using hand picking method. The specimens were cleaned, photographed, preserved in 70% ethanol, and deposited in the Marine Science Centre (MSC), University of Basrah, Iraq. The size of the specimen was recorded in mm. Following abbreviations were used: CW: carapace width; CL: carapace length; G1: male first gonopod.

Results and Discussion

Ilyoplax stevensi (Kemp, 1919)

(Figs. 2 A-C, 3)

Material examined: 2 males and 1 female.

Diagnosis

Carapace rectangular, broader than long, smooth, regions not well defined. Carapace lateral borders straight, convex posteriorly. A branchial region with three rows of tubercles. The outer half of the orbit straight (Fig. 2A). Abdomen well segmented, the third and the fourth segments are the same breadth. The fifth segment is more than the half breadth of the fourth segment. The sixth segment is twice as broad as it is long (Fig. 2B). Male chelipeds are weak and slightly stouter than those of females. The palm is slender. The fingers are 1.4 times longer than the length of the upper border of the palm (Fig.2C). Male first gonopod G1 with apical part bent outward slightly 45 degrees (Fig.3). Ilyoplax stevensi is widely distributed in the Persian-Arabian Gulf. It has been recorded from Iran (Naderloo and Türkay, 2012), Kuwait (Jones, 1986), Saudi Arabia (Apel, 1994).

Figure 2: Ilyoplax stevensi (Kemp, 1919). Male, CL = 6.2, CB = 9.3 mm, (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view and (C) chelipeds.

Figure 3: First male gonopod G1 of Ilyoplax stevensi Kemp, 1919.

Ilyoplax stevensi can live on muddy substrates of the intertidal zones of the Shatt Al-Basrah Canal.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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