Lower slope and abyssal benthic decapods of the Eastern Pacific
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| Keywords |
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| Author keywords |
Deep sea; Benthic crustaceans; Eastern Pacific; Decapoda |
| Abstract |
A total of 119 species of decapod crustaceans have been reported from depths of 700 m or more in the eastern Pacific. From 1875 to 2000, decapods were caught mostly by trawls and dredges on muddy sea floors. Sampling has not been consistent and has been concentrated in certain geographic areas. Taxonomic confusion and potential misidentifications continue to create problems. Of the species in the area, 14 are considered to occur worldwide. The area from Alaska to northern California has the fewest species (8); the area from southwestern Mexico to Peru or Chile has the most (27). Of the taxonomic groups, the most speciose are the family Munidopsidae (31 species). Adaptations to the environment include loss of functional eyes, capacious carapaces, lack of strict food preferences, and antipredator behavior including ability to swim and association with other invertebrates. Reproduction is poorly known but seems to be asynchronous. Largely due to costs and difficulties in processing the catch, there are no extensive fisheries for deepwater decapods in the area. |
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