NEW RECORDS OF ALIEN DECAPODS FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF TURKEY
B. Yokes
1 *
and B.S. Galil
2
1
Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Bogazici University, Etiler, Istanbul, Turkey - * bakiyokes@turk.net
2
National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel
Abstract
The marine biota off the southwestern coast of Turkey was studied by diving between 1996 and 2003. Sixalien decapod crustaceans of
Red Sea origin have been noted: one is a new record for the Mediterranean, two constitute new records for Turkey, and for three we report
significant range extensions within Turkey.
Key words: Alien, Decapoda, Red Sea, Turkey
Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 37,2004
556
The decapod crustaceans of the Mediterranean coast of Turkey have
been studied since the early 20
th
century (1-13). Many of these stud-
ies have reported the presence of Red Sea taxa that had invaded the
Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The recent CIESM Atlas of
exotic species in the Mediterranean Sea(14) recorded the occurrence
of 27 Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea decapods along the Turkish
coast.
The marine biota off the southwestern coast of Turkey, at depths
between 3 and 26 m, was studied by diving between 1996 and 2003.
The specimens were photographed in situand some were collected
and subsequently deposited in the National Collections, Tel Aviv
University, Israel. SixIWP species have been recorded: one is a new
record for the Mediterranean, two constitute new records for Turkey,
and for three we report westward range extensions within Turkey.
Melicertus hathor (Burkenroad, 1959)
Melicertus hathorwas collected from the coast of Israel 70 years
after it had been reported from the Suez Canal (15). In May 2002 it
was collected Yumurtalik bight, SE Turkey (M. Kumlu, O.T.
Eroldogan, M. Aktas and M. Gocer, pers. comm.), but this record is a
remarkable extension of its range.
Metapenaeopsis aegyptiaGalil, 1990
Metapenaeopsis aegyptia was recently described from Rhodes
Island (16). The present report constitute the first record of the species
from the Turkish coast. The species is common near Tekirova and Uc
Adalar.
Urocaridella antonbrunii(Bruce, 1967)
The specimens collected off the Mediterranean coast of Turkey fit
the type’s description (17). These nocturnal cleaner shrimps are quite
common in Kas, where they were observed on Moray eels, but were
mostly occur in small groups (5-6 individuals) in Posidoniaand
Cymodoceameadows. The carapace and pereiopods are nearly trans-
parent, with a red stripe across the third abdominal segment, the
uropodal exopods are red and white, the rostrum with ubterminal red
band, and the prereiopods banded white and red.Widely distributed in
the Indo-Pacific: from the Red Sea to Japan, Australia, Palau Island
(18). This is the first record of this handsome species from the
Mediterranean.
Carupa tenuipesDana, 1851
The specimen photographed off the Kas Peninsula is similar to the
single specimen collected off the Mediterranean coast of Israel
(www.ciesm.org/atlas/crustaceans). The species, of nocturnal habits,
was collected on biogenic rubble and rocky bottoms in the
Mediterranean though it is known to inhabit coral reef and coral rub-
ble bottoms in the IWP. A new record for Turkey, where it has been
established as far back as 1996, and is apparently quite common
between Kalkan and Tekirova from the evidence of its shed exoskele-
tons.
Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii(A. Milne Edwards, 1867)
A westward extension of its range, as it was reported before only
from southeastern Turkey (13). The species is quite common off
Tekirova.
Atergatis roseus(Rüppell, 1830)
A westward extension of its range, as it was reported before only
from southeastern Turkey (12).
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