Primer registro de la asociación de Synalpheus herricki y S. pandionis con Aiolochroia crassa en el parque nacional arrecife Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México

Abstract

The crustaceans from the Alpheidae family often have relation with other sessile marine invertebrates, particularly with sponges. The aim of this work was to know the number de individual, measures and sex ratio of the species of alpheids that be associated with the sponge Aiolochroia crassa. The study was made in Parque Nacional Arrecife de Puerto Morelos, during June 2013. A sponge was found and identified as Aiolochroia crassa, from which the crustaceans were extracted. One hundred and thirty six organisms were collected from the Alpheidae family. The most abundant species was Synalpheus herricki with 96 organisms, followed by S. pandionis with 39 and Alpheus cylindricus with just one organism, the cephalothorax length, maximum height, maximum width and total length were measured and comparisons were made between males and females, finding significant differences for all biometrics in both species. Between the two Synalpheus species significant differences were found only for the maximum height. As in other works, in this study also a 1:1 sex ratio was found, which indicates that the organisms form heterosexual couples.