TWO IN ONE: REPORT OF TWO EPIBIONTS GROUPS ON THE Callinectes bocourti A. MILNE-EDWARDS, 1879 (DECAPODA: PORTUNIDAE) FROM THE AMAZON PROVINCE

Abstract

Case studies reporting crustaceans acting as basibionts for a wide range of encrusting invertebrates are widely observed in the literature. For swimming crabs of the genus Callinectes, these commensal interactions are commonly observed in estuaries and coastal zones worldwide. Despite the broad distribution of Callinectes bocourti A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 in Amazon province, the occurrence of epibiosis for this species in the area is rarely reported. Herein, we report the double occurrence of epibiont groups: the mollusks Ostrea puelchana d’Orbigny, 1842 and Sphenia fragilis (H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854) and the barnacles Amphibalanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854) and Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) from the new host C. bocourti, collected from the Amazon province, Brazil. The specimens of C. bocourti showing epibionts were collected manually in low tide, with a baited trap called “puçá”,  in the region of Curuçá River mouth, state of Pará (0°40’3,705”S, 047°54”43,405”W). We observed five specimens of C. bocourti showing double cases of epibiosis, composed by mollusks and crustaceans sharing the same area. In addition, here, we expand the range extension of the mollusk O. puelchana and we register the presence of the invasive species barnacle A. improvisus from the state of Pará, being this last species, reported as parasite adhered in carapace and branchial chambers of the host.