NEW RECORDS OF THE CRABS OF THE GENUS PALICUS (PHILIPPI, 1838) (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA: BRACHYURA: PALICIDAE) FROM THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF COLOMBIA

Abstract

A new range extension of Palicus floridanus and five new records of Palicidae are presented, the samples are collected from the Colombian Caribbean coast during the cruise of INVEMAR-Macrofauna I between 1998 and 1999, along the upper continental Slope (300 and 500 m deep). Six species have now been recorded from the area: P. alternatus Rathbun, 1897; P. cursor A. Milne- Edwards, 1880; P. floridanus Rathbun, 1918; P. gracilipes A. Milne-Edwards, 1880; P. gracilis Smith, 1883, and P. sicus A. Milne-Edwards, 1880. Previously, P. alternatus was the only member of the family reported for this area before this study.