Occurrence of external morphological abnormalities in marine crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura) from north coast of the São Paulo State - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v34i1.8618 / Ocorrência de anormalidades morfológicas externas em caranguejos marinhos (Decapoda, Brachyura) no litoral norte do Estado de São Paulo - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v34i1.8618

ABSTRACT

Deformities and abnormalities in crustaceans have been associated to genetic problem, which occurred during molt process, damage caused by ectobionts, predators or environmental stress caused by chemical wastes. Some crab specimens collected in the São Paulo littoral were found having body abnormalities. They belong to the following crab species Callinectes ornatus (Ordway, 1863), Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) and Leurocyclus tuberculosus (H. Milne Edwards; Lucas, 1843). Samplings were performed by trawling during July 2008, August and October 2009 at the Ubatuba region, São Paulo State, Brazil. Body abnormalities were verified in the cheliped dactyl (C. ornatus an adult male), carapace deformities (A. cribrarius an adult male) and abdominal alterations (C. ornatus an adult female; L. tuberculosus an adult male and an ovigerous female). The record and analysis of such occurrences can help in the distinction of natural or human impact caused alterations. In this way, the occurrence study of this kind of body alterations could provide tools in order to control unprotected environmental areas, as well as bring subsides to understand the unusual variations during the ontogeny of important species in the benthic community

RESUMO

Callinectes ornatus (Ordway, 1863), Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) e Leurocyclus tuberculosus (H. Milne Edwards & Lucas, 1843). As coletas foram realizadas por meio de arrastos camaroneiros em julho de 2008, agosto e outubro de 2009, na região de Ubatuba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. As anormalidades apresentadas no corpo dos caranguejos encontravam-se no dáctilo do quelípodo (C. ornatus macho adulto), defeitos na carapaça (A. cribrarius macho adulto) e alterações abdominais (C. ornatus fêmea adulta; L. tuberculosus macho adulto e fêmea ovígera). O registro de tais ocorrências pode servir na distinção de alterações causadas naturalmente ou por impacto humano, podendo fornecer ferramentas úteis no sentido de monitorar áreas ambientais não protegidas, bem como trazer subsídios ao entendimento de alterações não usuais ocorridas durante a ontogenia de espécies importantes para a comunidade bentônica