Abstract
Variation in morphometric characters in four sand crab (Albunea symmysta) populations from four intertidal areas in Sumatra (Aceh and Bengkulu) and Java (Cilacap and Yogyakarta) were studied. Crabs collected from the four sites were measured to obtain 10 morphometric characters, i.e., carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW), ocular peduncle length and width (LOP and WOP), telson length and width (LT and WT), merus length (ML), carpus length (CaL), propodus length (PL), and dactylus length (DL). Allometric relationships were established among three morphometric characters (CW, PL, and DL) for each site, in which CL was fixed on the abscissa as a reference variable. The analysis of covariance showed that population from Yogyakarta had a greater carapace width and the Aceh population had a longer dactylus length. In terms of propodus length, the Aceh population had a longer dactylus length than the Bengkulu population. Two group populations were detected by cluster analysis with 10 morphometric characters, i.e., the Sumatra population and the Java population.
Highlights
The superfamily Hippoidea is one of the crab-like groups within the infraorder Anomura and is commonly referred to as mole or sand crabs
Crabs collected from the four sites were measured to obtain 10 morphometric characters, i.e., carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW), ocular peduncle length and width (LOP and WOP), telson length and width (LT and WT), merus length (ML), carpus length (CaL), propodus length (PL), and dactylus length (DL)
Allometric relationships were established among three morphometric characters (CW, PL, and DL) for each site, in which CL was fixed on the abscissa as a reference variable
Summary
The superfamily Hippoidea is one of the crab-like groups within the infraorder Anomura and is commonly referred to as mole or sand crabs These hippoids are specialized to live buried in sandy substrates or fine sediment from the intertidal to offshore zones (Boyko, 2002; Osawa et al 2010; Wardiatno & Mashar 2013). Wardiatno et al (2015a) reported seven genera of superfamily Hippoidea distributed in Indonesian waters, including Albunea symmysta. Sand crabs have an important role as components of the macrofaunal community in tropic and subtropic sandy beaches (Lastra et al 2002). They contribute to benthic secondary productivity (Subramoniam & Gunamalai 2003)
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