Marine anomurans (Decapoda) from the non-consolidated sublittoral bottom at the southeastern coast of Brazil

[The present study assessed the composition and abundance of species of Anomura at the southeastern coast of Brazil. Sampling was carried out monthly from January 1998 to December 1999, in three regions of Ubatuba: Ubatumirim Bay, Ubatuba Bay and Mar Virado Bay, using a fishing boat equipped with two double-rigged nets. Four transects were defined at depths of 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters in each bay. Two additional transects were defined perpendicular to the beach: one in a sheltered area and the other in an area exposed to wave action. A total of 6356 specimens of anomurans representing 15 species and 9 genera of 3 superfamilies (11 Paguroidea, 1 Hippoidea, and 3 Galatheoidea) was recorded. Paguristes robustus was recorded for the first time from the Sao Paulo State coast. Dardanus insignis was the most abundant species, followed by Loxopagurus loxochelis and Porcellana sayana . The high abundance of P. sayana may be related to the presence of D. insignis and Petrochirus diogenes , because this porcellanid crab lives inside the shells occupied by these hermit crabs. Species richness varied among the bays and transects, but the highest values were observed at the exposed and sheltered areas. The highest abundance of anomurans was recorded at a depth of 20 m during winter in the bays Mar Virado and Ubatuba. The anomuran species comprised 75% of the total number previously recorded from coastal non-consolidated bottoms of Sao Paulo. We therefore infer that this region affords favourable biotic and abiotic conditions for the settlement and maintenance of a large number of species of Anomura. O presente estudo avaliou a composicao e a abundância das especies de Anomura na costa Sudeste do Brasil. Amostragens foram realizadas de Janeiro de 1998 a Dezembro de 1999, em tres regioes de Ubatuba: baia do Ubatumirim, baia de Ubatuba e baia do Mar Virado, utilizando-se um barco de pesca camaroneiro equipado com duas redes de arrasto. Quatro transectos foram definidos nas profundidades de 5, 10, 15, e 20 metros em cada baia. Dois transectos adicionais foram definidos perpendicularmente a praia: uma em area abrigada e outra em uma area exposta a acao de ondas. Um total de 6.356 especimes de anomuros, representando 15 especies, 9 generos e 3 superfamilias (11 Paguroidea, 1 Hippoidea e 3 Galatheoidea) foram registrados. Paguristes robustus foi registrado pela primeira vez na costa do Estado de Sao Paulo. Dardanus insignis foi a especie mais abundante, seguida por Loxopagurus loxochelis e Porcellana sayana . A alta abundância de P. sayana pode estar relacionada a presenca de D. insignis e Petrochirus diogenes , ja que este porcelanideo habita o interior de conchas ocupadas por estes ermitoes. A riqueza das especies variou entre as baias e os transectos, e os maiores valores foram observados nas areas expostas e abrigadas da acao de ondas. As maiores abundâncias de anomuros foram registradas na profundidade de 20 metros durante o inverno nas baias de Mar Virado e Ubatuba. As especies de anomuros compuseram 75% do total previamente registrado para toda a costa do Estado de Sao Paulo, referente ao fundo nao consolidado. Podemos inferir que esta regiao oferece condicoes bioticas e abioticas favoraveis para o assentamento e a manutencao de um grande numero de especies de anomuros. , The present study assessed the composition and abundance of species of Anomura at the southeastern coast of Brazil. Sampling was carried out monthly from January 1998 to December 1999, in three regions of Ubatuba: Ubatumirim Bay, Ubatuba Bay and Mar Virado Bay, using a fishing boat equipped with two double-rigged nets. Four transects were defined at depths of 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters in each bay. Two additional transects were defined perpendicular to the beach: one in a sheltered area and the other in an area exposed to wave action. A total of 6356 specimens of anomurans representing 15 species and 9 genera of 3 superfamilies (11 Paguroidea, 1 Hippoidea, and 3 Galatheoidea) was recorded. Paguristes robustus was recorded for the first time from the Sao Paulo State coast. Dardanus insignis was the most abundant species, followed by Loxopagurus loxochelis and Porcellana sayana . The high abundance of P. sayana may be related to the presence of D. insignis and Petrochirus diogenes , because this porcellanid crab lives inside the shells occupied by these hermit crabs. Species richness varied among the bays and transects, but the highest values were observed at the exposed and sheltered areas. The highest abundance of anomurans was recorded at a depth of 20 m during winter in the bays Mar Virado and Ubatuba. The anomuran species comprised 75% of the total number previously recorded from coastal non-consolidated bottoms of Sao Paulo. We therefore infer that this region affords favourable biotic and abiotic conditions for the settlement and maintenance of a large number of species of Anomura. O presente estudo avaliou a composicao e a abundância das especies de Anomura na costa Sudeste do Brasil. Amostragens foram realizadas de Janeiro de 1998 a Dezembro de 1999, em tres regioes de Ubatuba: baia do Ubatumirim, baia de Ubatuba e baia do Mar Virado, utilizando-se um barco de pesca camaroneiro equipado com duas redes de arrasto. Quatro transectos foram definidos nas profundidades de 5, 10, 15, e 20 metros em cada baia. Dois transectos adicionais foram definidos perpendicularmente a praia: uma em area abrigada e outra em uma area exposta a acao de ondas. Um total de 6.356 especimes de anomuros, representando 15 especies, 9 generos e 3 superfamilias (11 Paguroidea, 1 Hippoidea e 3 Galatheoidea) foram registrados. Paguristes robustus foi registrado pela primeira vez na costa do Estado de Sao Paulo. Dardanus insignis foi a especie mais abundante, seguida por Loxopagurus loxochelis e Porcellana sayana . A alta abundância de P. sayana pode estar relacionada a presenca de D. insignis e Petrochirus diogenes , ja que este porcelanideo habita o interior de conchas ocupadas por estes ermitoes. A riqueza das especies variou entre as baias e os transectos, e os maiores valores foram observados nas areas expostas e abrigadas da acao de ondas. As maiores abundâncias de anomuros foram registradas na profundidade de 20 metros durante o inverno nas baias de Mar Virado e Ubatuba. As especies de anomuros compuseram 75% do total previamente registrado para toda a costa do Estado de Sao Paulo, referente ao fundo nao consolidado. Podemos inferir que esta regiao oferece condicoes bioticas e abioticas favoraveis para o assentamento e a manutencao de um grande numero de especies de anomuros. ]