A record of the moon crab Matuta victor (Fabricius, 1781) (Crustacea; Decapoda; Matutidae) from the Mediterranean coast of Israel

Abstract

Introductions of alien freshwater fish species into the Mediterranean-climatic South-west Coast Drainage Division of Australia have impacted a highly endemic (≈82%) yet depauperate (11 species) native freshwater fish fauna. This study updates the current known introduced freshwater fishes in Western Australia, assesses the historic rate of introductions and how habitat, water quality and climatic changes have facilitated those introductions. South-western Australia has undergone a ≈63% increase in alien freshwater fish introductions since 1970 (44% increase over the past decade) to 13 species; overtaking the number of native fishes. Aquarium species represent 80% of the latest introductions (46% of total number) and the majority (54%) of introduced fishes in the region are of sub-tropical or tropical origin. As found elsewhere, species with broad environmental tolerances and generalist diets are likely to continue to be the main colonizers in this region. We propose that past and future climatic and habitat changes in the Mediterranean-climatic south-west region will facilitate continued invasion of tropical and sub-tropical aquarium fishes and that strategic monitoring, control and public education programs are required to halt future introductions.

New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (October 2015)

“…The moon crab Matuta victor (Fabricius, 1781) (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Matutidae) is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea (Galil & Mendelson, 2013). Two specimens were collected in the vicinity of Haifa in 2012 and constitute the unique record from the Mediterranean Sea (Galil & Mendelson, 2013).…”

“…Two specimens were collected in the vicinity of Haifa in 2012 and constitute the unique record from the Mediterranean Sea (Galil & Mendelson, 2013). In September 2013, a single specimen was captured by a trammel net from Batroun (34.229884° N -35.641305° E) and was deposited in the marine collection of the American University of Beirut (AUBM CR1490) (Fig.…”

First record of an invasive shrimp from the family Processidae (Crustacea, Decapoda) in the Mediterranean Sea

“…In view of the ongoing increase of introduced decapods in the Eastern Mediterranean (Galil & Mendelson, 2013;Karhan et al, 2013;Rothman et al, 2013), it is crucial to increase the body of knowledge regarding the infraorder Caridea, which is able to inhabit a wide range of habitats worldwide and successfully invade new environments.…”

“…At least 33 Lessepsian decapods are known along the coasts of Israel (Galil & Shlagman, 2011), with new records added constantly. Out of the known Lessepsian decapods nine species are shrimps which belong to the infraorder Caridea (Galil & Shlagman 2011;Galil & Mendelson 2013;Karhan et al, 2013;Rothman et al, 2013).…”

A new alien crab for the Mediterranean Sea: Xanthias lamarckii (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae)

“…A number of 39 alien Brachyura species of Red Sea/ Indo-Pacific origin, belonging to 19 families, have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea (Galil, 2011;Zenetos et al, 2012;Karhan et al, 2013;Galil & Mendelson, 2013;Zaouali et al, 2013). The families Portunidae, Pilumnidae and Leucosiidae show the highest number of Red Sea/ Indo-Pacific aliens, �ith 11, � and � species respectivealiens, with 11, 5 and 3 species respectively, while the remaining families are represented by only one or two species.…”