A preliminary investigation of epibiotic macrofauna on the mangrove horseshoe crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Latreille, 1802) in Singapore

Horseshoe crabs may act as mobile substrata for communities of sessile marine organisms on intertidal mudflats. In Singapore, the mangrove horseshoe crabs, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Latreille, 1802) were surveyed for the diversity of epibiotic macrofauna. The most common epibiota observed was th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine biology research 2021-07, Vol.17 (5-6), p.513-522
Main Authors: Chin Sing, LIM, Lester Jin Xiang, TAN, Mei Lin, NEO, Serena Lay Ming, TEO, Stephen Sui Leung, BENG, Saravanan, NADARAJAN, Karenne, TUN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda
epibiont distribution
horseshoe crab carapace
macrofaunal biodiversity
Mangrove horseshoe crab
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Summary:Horseshoe crabs may act as mobile substrata for communities of sessile marine organisms on intertidal mudflats. In Singapore, the mangrove horseshoe crabs, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Latreille, 1802) were surveyed for the diversity of epibiotic macrofauna. The most common epibiota observed was the barnacles belonging to Amphibalanus spp., along with other organisms: slipper snails Crepidula walshi and anemones (species undetermined). We also report the first account of an invasive American brackish mussel, Mytella strigata on C. rotundicauda in Singapore. Adult horseshoe crabs, particularly the males, have the highest prevalence and abundance of epibionts. A distinct distribution of epibionts was observed across horseshoe crab gender, age class and between the dorsal and ventral planes. Barnacles were found to be the dominant fouling on dorsal planes, while M. strigata and slipper snails occurred mainly on the ventral planes.
ISSN:1745-1000
1745-1019
DOI:10.1080/17451000.2021.1986723