Northernmost record of Macropipus rugosus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Polybiidae) in the Canary Islands

Here we report the first occurrence of this brachyuran crab, M. rugosus, off the Canary Islands, based on three individuals recently caught off Tenerife. These specimens were collected as by-catch in a baited shrimp-trap of the local small-scale fishery addressed to pandalid shrimps (González et al., 2020), which is being monitored by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) in the context of the EU Multi-Annual Programme (EU-MAP) for the Data Collection Framework (DCF). The sampling was performed on board the F/V “Elsa”. The crabs were sorted on board, photographed immediately after being caught, and then preserved in 80% ethanol for morphological analysis and identification at the laboratory. The voucher specimens were labelled, curated, data-based and deposited in the marine fauna collections (CFM-IEOCA) of the ‘Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias’ (belonging to the IEO-CSIC) hosted by GBIF-Spain (https://www.gbif.org/es/publisher/a9ccac23-91ec-4b8b-a55c-75abc1bf2672) (Casañas Machín & Pascual Alayón, 2020), as well as in the ICCM study collection at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

[EN] We are reporting for the first time the presence of the crab Macropipus rugosus (Doflein, 1904) (Polybiidae) in the Canary Islands. This finding is based on the collection of three individuals off Tenerife. The collection, at coordinates 28 10 38 N, establishes a new northern distribution limit for this species. The species was previously known from tropical and subtropical seas off the west coast of Africa, has recently been reported in the waters of Cape Verde, and now we report it for the Canary Islands.

[ES] Se cita por primera vez la presencia del cangrejo Macropipus rugosus (Doflein, 1904) (Polybiidae) en las Islas Canarias. Este hallazgo se basa en la recolección de tres ejemplares en Tenerife. Esta recolección, en 28°10 38N, establece un nuevo límite norte de distribución para esta especie. La especie era previamente conocida de mares tropicales y subtropicales de la costa oeste de África, ha sido recientemente citada en aguas de Cabo Verde y ahora la reportamos para las Islas Canarias.

We would like to dedicate this Note to the memory of our respected and beloved colleague Dr. Christoph D. Schubart. This research was co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund within the Spanish National Programme of collection, management, and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. To the crew of the F/V “Elsa” and CECAF Group at the ‘Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias’. To Arturo Telle, professional underwater photographer, for taking photographs of the vouchers and creating the photographic plate.

Peer reviewed