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A New Record of Symbiotic Crab (Harrovia elegans de Man, 1887) from the Gulf of Mannar, India

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Abstract

The present study deals with the first record of symbiotic crab Harrovia elegans de Man 1887 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Pilumnidae) collected from Tuticorin and Mandapam regions of Gulf of Mannar during February 2019. This crab species affiliates to family Pilumnidae, under the Decapoda infra-order Brachyura and is for the first time reported from the Indian mainland. The present specimens (One adult male, one adult female and a sub-adult) were collected from a depth of 5 m and showing symbiotic association with the crinoids, Comanthus wahlbergii. Although widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, this is the first report of this species from the Indian mainland.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank Dr. Peter Ng, (Director, Raffles Museum for Biodiversity Research, Singapore) for confirming the identification of the crabs. Shilpa Jose acknowledges the help rendered by Dr. S. Suresh Kumar (Director, SOST, KUFOS) and Dr. Ravinesh R. (Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala). Authors thank Anoop VK for helping with image processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, PIN – 682 506, India

    Shilpa Jose

  2. Department of Aquatic Environment Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, PIN – 682 506, India

    Ranjeet Kutty

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  1. Shilpa Jose
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Correspondence to Ranjeet Kutty.

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This is to certify that the authors have no conflict of interest existing for this manuscript entitled “A new record of symbiotic crab (Harrovia elegans de Man 1887) from the Gulf of Mannar, India” as there no financial support from a third party or the authors have no personal relationship with any third party whose interests could be positively or negatively influenced by the article’s content. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Jose, S., Kutty, R. A New Record of Symbiotic Crab (Harrovia elegans de Man, 1887) from the Gulf of Mannar, India. Thalassas 36, 585–588 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-020-00213-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-020-00213-z

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