Checklist and annotated bibliography of decapod crustacean larvae from the Southwestern European coast (Gibraltar Strait area)

J I González Gordillo,A Rodríguez,A Dos Santos

doi:10.3989/scimar.2001.65n4275

J I González Gordillo, A Rodríguez + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2001.65n4275

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Journal: Scientia Marina	Publication Date: Dec 30, 2001
Citations: 48	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía

Abstract

SUMMARY: Studies on decapod larvae entailing identification of specimens collected from plankton should be based on sound bibliographic sources that contain morphological descriptions of the species cited in the area. In order to facilitate this bibliographic search, we present a survey of the literature in which decapod larvae from the Gibraltar Strait area (encompassing most of the Mediterranean and northeastern Atlantic decapod crustacean species) are partially or completely described. Among these, the most accuratly identified larval specimens are pointed out. For each original case the taxon assigned by the author, types and numbers of stages described and the origin of the studied larvae are noted. Morever, a checklist of 377 species is given for Gibraltar Strait decapod crustaceans. Of all the species recorded in the area, larval descriptions are known, at least partially, for 220 species (58,35 %), but for 36 (9,54 %) morphological descriptions are sufficiently accurate for a correct identification from plankton specimens.

Highlights

The identification of decapod larvae from plankton samples proves to be a complex task, mainly because of the wide dispersion of bibliographic sources
Many of the species described are ascribed to other species, genera, or even families. This results in a serious difficulty in the collection of all the existing bibliography on a given species, which may have been referred to under various names
To make up the list of the species present in the Gibraltar Strait all the species recorded for the area comprised between 30°-40°N and 0°-10°W have been included (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

The identification of decapod larvae from plankton samples proves to be a complex task, mainly because of the wide dispersion of bibliographic sources. Easy access to detailed descriptions, clear illustrations, and suitable keys are much help in the identification of specimens. Many of the early workers gave only brief descriptions of larvae, often without illustrations, and only few identified the parental individuals to species level. Many of the species described are ascribed to other species, genera, or even families. This results in a serious difficulty in the collection of all the existing bibliography on a given species, which may have been referred to under various names. The present work has taken into account such modifications, indicating for each reference the current name of the taxon and that ascribed (used) by the author of the description

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