Munidopsis subsquamosa, HENDERSON, 1885

Martin, Joel W. & Haney, Todd A., 2005, Decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps: a review through 2005, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (4), pp. 445-522 : 480

MUNIDOPSIS SUBSQUAMOSA HENDERSON, 1885

Type locality: North Pacific Ocean , south of Japan, off Yokohama; H. M. S. Challenger sta. 237; 34°37′N, 140°32′E; 1875 fathoms (3571 m), ‘bottom, blue mud’ .

Known range: Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico ( Van Dover, 1997, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997) and ‘widely distributed in the Pacific and Indian Oceans’ ( Khodkina, 1991: 76, English summary), though some of the previous records may be of different species (see Remarks below and also Ambler, 1980).

Occurrence at vents or seeps: records from hydrothermal vents include nearly every known vent site in the eastern Pacific, including 21°N, 13°N, 10– 12°N, 9°50′N, Galapagos Rift (e.g. see Khodkina, 1991; Chevaldonné & Olu, 1996; Van Dover, 1997: 204, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997; Lutz et al., 1998).

Material: Material of this widespread and locally abundant species, if indeed all of the material represents a single species (see below), is mentioned by numerous workers (e.g. de Saint Laurent, 1984; Hessler, Smithey & Keller, 1985; Van Dover et al., 1985; Van Dover, 1986; Van Dover & Hessler, 1990; Kaartvedt et al., 1994; and see also Lutz, 1992, as cited by Chevaldonné & Olu, 1996).

Remarks: This species, which can be found ‘in great abundance in peripheral areas of vent fields on the East Pacific Rise’ ( Van Dover, 1997: 204, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997; see also Shank et al., 1998a, for rapid colonization of new vents) may represent a species complex. Indeed, in a paper by K. Baba that is currently in review, the material reported as M. subsquamosa from the eastern Pacific (Galapagos Rift and 13° and 21°N sites) will be treated as distinct from ‘true’ M. subsquamosa (anonymous information from confidential reviewer). Separate species within this complex would in part explain the apparent geographical range (see above) currently attributed to M. subsquamosa . Lutz (1992) suggested that at the 9°50′N ( EPR) location two different species of the genus might be present. Van Dover (1986) compared stable isotope ratios within the species and also noted slight differences in temperature preferences between males and ovigerous females. Lutz et al. (1998) reported it from an EPR site dominated by Stauromedusae. Hessler & Smithey (1983) provided brief observations on ecology and behaviour of the species at the Rose Garden site. Chevaldonné & Olu (1996) noted that a complete taxonomic re-examination of the species is needed. Van Dover et al. (1985) reported lecithotrophic larvae for the species (based on observations or collections made at three sites in the EPR). Creasey et al. (2000: 111) discussed the genetic difference between this species and M. crassa , which some previous authors had considered conspecific.