Preliminary results on the taxonomic study of the varunid crab, Acmaeopleura parvula, (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) from Korea

Abstract

Acmaeopleura parvula Stimpson, 1958 has been first recorded from Amai Oshima that is part of the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan. The species is distributed to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. This crab inhabit between rocks or pebbles on superior intertidal zone. Continuing the study of the brachyuran from Korea, the authors found out that the crab shows different colored carapace and seta pattern on cheliped between males and females regarded as a same species. The original description and those of other researchers, however, have not been mentioned the differentiation of both sexes. The authors examined the individuals of them based on the genetic distance of mtCOI sequences using neighbor joining method, and morphomatrix of morphological characteristics. As a result, they are supposed same species even if they show differentiation of their body. The pictures of the habitats and the colored carapace in living are provided herein.ertidal zone. Continuing the study of the brachyuran from Korea, the authors found out that the crab shows different colored carapace and seta pattern on cheliped between males and females regarded as a same species. The original description and those of other researchers, however, have not been mentioned the differentiation of both sexes. The authors examined the individuals of them based on the genetic distance of mtCOI sequences using neighbor joining method, and morphomatrix of morphological characteristics. As a result, they are supposed same species even if they show differentiation of their body. The pictures of the habitats and the colored carapace in living are provided herein.