Maja brachydactyla (Brachyura: Majidae) in the western Mediterranean

An ovigerous Maja spider crab was captured during a fishery research cruise in the North Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean, near the city of Malaga. From morphological characters this individual was identified as Maja brachydactyla. Prior to the specimen being returned alive back to sea, it was mea...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inMarine biodiversity records Vol. 7
Main Authors Abelló, Pere, Guerao, Guillermo, Salmerón, Francisca, García Raso, José Enrique
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 2014
Subjects
Biogeography
Crustaceans
Marine biology
Morphology
western Mediterranean
Majidae
Alboran Sea
Maja brachydactyla
molecular identification
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:An ovigerous Maja spider crab was captured during a fishery research cruise in the North Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean, near the city of Malaga. From morphological characters this individual was identified as Maja brachydactyla. Prior to the specimen being returned alive back to sea, it was measured, photographed, and a portion of a pleopod excised for genetic analysis. The latter confirmed the identification as correct. An additional seven specimens collected from Caleta de Velez in the vicinity of Malaga were morphologically examined, confirming the presence of M. brachydactyla in the Alboran Sea. This finding would represent the first evidence of the species occurring in the western Mediterranean Sea, with apparently well-established populations.
ISSN:1755-2672
1755-2672
DOI:10.1017/S1755267214000827