Abstract
Highly specialized cryptochirid crabs are obligate symbionts of scleractinian corals in tropical and subtropical seas. General morphologies of cryptochirid crabs remain poorly described due to their small size and difficulties in collection; thus, the current inventory is probably an underestimation. In the present study, we sampled cryptochirid crabs from coral communities in Hong Kong. In the literature, onlyCryptochirus hongkongensis(nowNeotroglocarcinus hongkongensis) with unknown hosts had been recorded in Hong Kong since 1936. In addition to morphological examination, identification in the present study is further supported by sequence divergence of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and 16S ribosomal DNA markers. Six operative taxonomic units (OTUs), representing four species and one species complex with two species, were revealed among our material:Cryptochirus coralliodytes,Lithoscaptus paradoxus,Lithoscaptus doughnutsp. nov.,Lithoscaptus scottaesp. nov., andXynomaia shenispecies complex. Morphological description of these species is provided, including description of the two new pseudocryptic species. The hosts of the genusLithoscaptusbelong largely to the Merulinidae, whileL. doughnutsp. nov. inhabits the Plesiastreidae.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
