NORTHERN RANGE EXPANSION OF THE AMERICAN TALON CRAB, EUCHIROGRAPSUS AMERICANUS A. MILNE-EDWARDS, 1880 (DECAPODA, GRAPSOIDEA, PLAGUSIIDAE), TO THE BAY OF FUNDY, CANADA

摘要

The recent collection (2009) of an American talon crab, Euchirograpsus americanus A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, in the Bay of Fundy, Canada has expanded the known distribution of this enigmatic plagusiid crab species typically found in subtropical and tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Carolinas. Although historical records are limited, they document a northward range expansion of the species with occurrences off North Carolina in 1962, Delaware in 1979, and further to New Jersey in 1981, which would discount these northerly records as independent, accidental introductions. The present exclusive record of the talon crab in Canadian waters is also from the shallowest (6.3 m) and coldest waters (8.3 degrees C) that the species has thus far been documented in. The literature, until now, indicated an affinity for sandy or rocky bottom between 31 and 510 m depth at temperatures of 11-24 degrees C. While establishment of the species in the region remains uncertain, the present record is perhaps indicative of large-scale processes, such as climate change, that are altering species distributions.