Guinotia
StatusLC
Status systemIUCN3.1
Display parents2
GenusGuinotia
Parent authorityPretzmann, 1965[1]
Speciesdentata
Authority(Latreille, 1825)
Synonyms
  • Boscia Henri Milne EdwardsH. Milne Edwards, 1837
  • Guinotia (Guinotia) Pretzmann, 1965
  • Potamia Latreille, 1831
  • Pseudothelphusa (Guinotia) Pretzmann, 1965
  • Pseudothelphusa tenuipes Pocock, 1889
  • Thelphusa dentata Latreille, 1825

Guinotia is a monotypic genus of freshwater crabs in the family Pseudothelphusidae,[2] containing only the species Guinotia dentata,[3] commonly known as cyrique.[4] They have few predators.[5] Found in the West Indies, they are easily caught[4] and thus are used locally as a food source.[6]

Description

Guinotia dentata is almost oval in shape and the teeth on its carapace are very small. It is a yellow-brown colour and its shell can grow to 65 millimetres (2.6 in) long; it is about 3/5 long as wide.[4][6] The eyestalks are yellow whilst the corneas are black,[4] but they are probably best identifiable by their large yellow claws with straight sharply pointed fingers.[7]

The species sometimes has almost an entire dorsal surface of carapace yellow with submarginal brown.[8]

Its shell has a cervical meandering curve which does not quite touch the edge of the shell. About 24 cubicles are well defined. The forehead is low, excavated and depressed and of uniform height.[9] Its pereiopods are fairly average and its chelae are without prominent, swollen protuberance on outer surface near the base of the fingers.[8]

Distribution and habitat

The species is native mostly to Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia.[10] Its distribution is fragmented because of its presence on multiple islands, but it is plentiful in the regions it inhabits.[10]

Guinotia dentata lives mostly in streams (particularly shady ones)[5] and ponds and may sometimes be seen on land, though it avoids areas that are excessively dry.[2] It has not yet been observed in estuaries.[5] It lives in streams and rivers in the highlands of the Lesser Antilles, not including the Virgin Islands.[10][11] They are known to hide under roots of trees, rocks and rotten wood where they dig shallow burrows which are oval in shape.[6][12] They have been spotted at altitudes of 2,850 ft (870 m).[4] They certainly inhabit the Boeri Lake and may inhabit Freshwater Lake.[13]

The largest threat to the species is habitat destruction, and a protected area has been established on Dominica to conserve them.[10]

Reproduction

Reproduction takes place entirely in fresh water, and breeding takes place all year round; there does not seem to be a breeding season.[5] The young undergo direct development, hatching as juveniles, without passing through any larval stages. The females carry the eggs and protect the young[6] who stay with their mother for a period after hatching.[5]

Diet

Guinotia dentata is a mainly carnivorous (though partially herbivorous)[6] animal which sometimes also acts as a scavenger or detritivore.[5] It has been observed to eat minnows, prawns, and aquatic algae-like vegetation.[14]

Taxonomic history

Guinotia dentata was first described in 1825 by Pierre André Latreille.[3] The specific epithet dentata means "toothed" in Latin.[5] In 1965, Gerhard Pretzmann erected the genus Guinotia (a tribute to Danièle Guinot) and made Latreille's species the type species.[15]

The following species were previously considered members of Guinotia:[3]

References

  1. ^ Pretzmann, G. (1965). Vorläufiger Bericht über die Familie Pseudothelphusidae. Anzeiger der mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1965(1): 1–10
  2. ^ Richard G. Hartnoll (1988). "Biology of the land crabs: an introduction". Evolution, systematics, and geographical distribution. Warren W. Burggren & Brian Robert McMahon (eds.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 6–54. ISBN 978-0-521-30690-4.
  3. ^ Peter Davie & Sammy De Grave (2021). "Guinotia Pretzmann, 1965". World Register of Marine Species. Archived 17 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  4. ^ Kristy Venable (2004). "Photographic Guide to the Freshwater and Terrestrial Crabs of Dominica". Texas A&M University. p. 16. Archived 10 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  5. ^ Anne Prouzet & Pierre Noël (2009). "Guinotia dentata (Latreille, 1825)" (in French). DORIS. Archived 6 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  6. ^ Hans Hillewaert. "Guinotia dentata". BioLib. Archived 19 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  7. ^ Miculka (2009), p. 5.
  8. ^ Chace & Hobbs (1969), pp. 156–160.
  9. ^ Gilberto Rodriguez (1982). Les crabes d'eau douce d'Amérique. Famille des Pseudothelphusidae (in French). Vol. XXII. Faune tropicale. Paris: ORSTOM. pp. 188–192. ISBN 978-2-7099-0513-8. Archived 29 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  10. ^ N. Cumberlidge (2008). "Guinotia dentata". Vol. 2008. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T134595A3983694.en
  11. ^ Chace & Hobbs (1969), p. 19.
  12. ^ Miculka (2009), p. 7.
  13. ^ Chace & Hobbs (1969), p. 42.
  14. ^ Miculka (2009), p. 13.
  15. ^ Gerhard Pretzmann (1965). "Vorläufiger Bericht über die Familie Pseudothelphusidae" [Preliminary report on the family Pseudothelphusidae] (in German). Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien. 1: 1–11. Archived 5 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
Bibliography