3 research outputs found
Polyps fishing on a crab: novel association between <em>Hydrichthella epigorgia</em> (Hydrozoa, Ptilocodiidae) and Achaeus (Crustacea, Inachidae)
International audienceHydrozoans are a ubiquitous component of the marine benthos which may occur associated with a wide range of taxa. Some of these associations have been recently reviewed, while others remain mostly unexplored, such as the case of hydrozoans and brachyuran crabs. The present study describes a novel association between the ptilocodiid Hydrichthella epigorgia and spider crabs of the genus Achaeus. Three complementary approaches have been followed in order to determine the prevalence and specificity of this interaction: (1) in situ observations, (2) assessment of independent observations from image repositories, and (3) analyses of specimens kept in museum collections. The present contribution constitutes the first report of H. epigorgia in the Red Sea and the first evidence of a Ptilocodiidae epibiont on a crustacean. The prevalence obtained is the highest ever reported for a hydroid-crab association (96%), which suggests specific ecological interactions between both species. The Achaeus crabs are reported using H. epigorgia polyps as fishing rods to capture zooplankton, with pereiopods 2-3 acting as fishing legs and harboring a much larger amount of dactylozooids than other pereiopods. Different morphotypes are described for H. epigorgia in relation to the substrate used, and the validity of the representatives of the genus is discussed. Further experimental studies will clarify whether the Achaeus-H. epigorgia association may represent a novel case of mutualism in hydroid-crab epibiosis
Polyps fishing on a crab: novel association between Hydrichthella epigorgia (Hydrozoa, Ptilocodiidae) and Achaeus (Crustacea, Inachidae)
Este artĂculo contiene 13 páginas, 6 figuras, 1 tabla.Hydrozoans are a ubiquitous component of the marine
benthos which may occur associated with a wide range of
taxa. Some of these associations have been recently reviewed,
while others remain mostly unexplored, such as the case of
hydrozoans and brachyuran crabs. The present study describes
a novel association between the ptilocodiid Hydrichthella
epigorgia and spider crabs of the genus Achaeus. Three complementary
approaches have been followed in order to determine
the prevalence and specificity of this interaction: (1) in
situ observations, (2) assessment of independent observations
from image repositories, and (3) analyses of specimens kept in
museum collections. The present contribution constitutes the
first report ofH. epigorgia in the Red Sea and the first evidence
of a Ptilocodiidae epibiont on a crustacean. The prevalence
obtained is the highest ever reported for a hydroid–crab association
(96%), which suggests specific ecological interactions
between both species. The Achaeus crabs are reported using
H. epigorgia polyps as fishing rods to capture zooplankton,
with pereiopods 2–3 acting as Bfishing legs^ and harboring a
much larger amount of dactylozooids than other pereiopods.
Different morphotypes are described for H. epigorgia in relation
to the substrate used, and the validity of the representatives
of the genus is discussed. Further experimental studies will
clarifywhether the Achaeus–H. epigorgia associationmay represent
a novel case of mutualism in hydroid–crab epibiosis.FP acknowledges the project CHALLENGEN (CTM2013-48163) of the
Spanish Government and a post-doctoral contract funded by the Beatriu
de Pinos Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe