NEW RECORDS AND RANGE EXTENSION OF BRACHYURAN CRABS (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA) FROM COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN SEA

Abstract

New records and range extensions are documented for 19 species of brachyuran crabs collected during INVEMAR-Macrofauna II expeditions between 20 and 150 m depth along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. A summary of morphological characteristics of the species and genera, their distribution, and remarks based on a study of the specimens collected and available published information is included. The new records involve species of the families Calappidae, Epialtidae, Goneplacidae, Inachidae, Inachoididae, Leucosiidae, Mithracidae, Palicidae and Xanthidae. The presence of Persephona crinita, Podochela lamelligera, Aepinus septemspinosus and Collodes inermis represent geographic and in some cases bathymetric range extensions within the Caribbean Sea.