O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a ecologia populacional de Callichirus major (Say, 1818) na praia de Piedade, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, através da análise de parâmetros como proporção sexual, período reprodutivo e o recrutamento de juvenis nesta população. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente entre dezembro de 2010 e novembro de 2011. A temperatura do ar e das tocas, além da salinidade da água do mar foram medidas in situ. O teste t de Student foi aplicado para comparar os valores dos fatores abióticos entre as estações seca e chuvosa. A proporção sexual foi analisada para cada mês e durante todo o período estudado, e o teste do qui-quadrado foi aplicado para verificar se desvia significativamente da proporção esperada. O período reprodutivo foi determinado com base na frequência de fêmeas ovígeras. O recrutamento foi obtido com base na frequência de indivíduos imaturos. A influência de fatores abióticos na população foi avaliada através do coeficiente de Pearson. A temperatura do ar e das tocas variou significativamente entre os períodos seco e chuvoso, com valores mais elevados no período seco. Um total de 389 indivíduos C. major foram amostrados (174 ♂ e 215 ♀). A razão sexual foi de 1:1,24 (♂:♀), as fêmeas foram mais abundantes que os machos. No presente estudo, foi observado que o pico da fase reprodutiva e frequência de fêmeas ovígeras de C. major ocorreu na estação seca (verão equatorial). O recrutamento de jovens na população ocorreu durante todo o ano, especialmente entre o verão e o outono. De acordo com a matriz de correlação, o fator abiótico mais influente na abundância de C. major, especialmente em fêmeas ovígeras, é a temperatura das tocas. Este estudo cria uma linha de base para futuras pesquisas com C. major no Nordeste do Brasil.

The aim of this paper was to study the population ecology of Callichirus major (Say, 1818) at Piedade Beach, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, through the analysis of parameters such as sex ratio, reproductive period and recruitment of juveniles into this population. Sampling was taken monthly from December 2010 to November 2011. The burrow and air temperatures, as well as the sea water salinity, were measured in situ. A Student t test was applied to compare the value of abiotic factors between the dry and rainy seasons. The sex ratio was analyzed for each month and for the total studied period, and a Chi-square test was applied to verify if it deviated significantly from the expected proportion. The reproductive period was determined based on the frequency of ovigerous females. The recruitment was obtained based on the frequency of non-mature individuals. The influence of the abiotic factors was evaluated through a Pearson’s coefficient. The air and burrow temperatures varied significantly between the dry and rainy periods, with the highest values in the dry period. A total of 389 individuals of C. major (174 ♂ and 215 ♀) were sampled. The sex ratio was 1:1.24 (♂:♀), with females being more abundant than males. In this study, the most active reproductive period of C. major and frequency of ovigerous females was observed in the dry period (equatorial summer). Recruitment of juveniles into the population occurred throughout the year, between the summer and the autumn. According to the correlation matrix, the main abiotic factor influencing the abundance of C. major, especially of ovigerous females, was the burrow temperature. This study creates a baseline for further research with C. major in Northeastern Brazil.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biodiversity, relative abundance and frequency of decapod crustaceans in the marine mangrove ecosystem at Gaibu Beach, Pernambuco State, Brazil. A total of eight samples were taken: four in the rainy season (August 2010) and four in the dry season (February 2011), during spring low tides and according to the phases of the moon. In all, 352 decapods were sampled. These specimens belonged to 17 species, 14 genera and 13 families. Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850), P. gracilis (Saussure, 1858), Panopeus americanus Saussure, 1857 and Uca (Leptuca) leptodactyla Rathbun, 1898 were very frequent. The three latter species occurred in all samples. The most abundant species was P. americanus. The Shannon-Wiener index (H') showed that, in general, the diversity level was medium for all samples. However, the sample taken at the time of the new moon during the rainy season was classified as highly diverse. These results contribute to the knowledge of the decapod fauna inhabiting mangroves associated with fringe reefs.

Eiconaxius carinatus (Bouvier 1925) caracteriza-se, principalmente, por apresentar carenas laterais do rostro lisas, mero da quela maior com carena dorsal lisa, palma da quela maior exibindo carena dorsal bem nítida e dedos da quela menor de comprimento inferior ao da palma. Um exemplar foi coletado ao largo do Estado do Maranhão (00º 08' N e 44º 32' W) a 247 m de profundidade. A área de ocorrência anteriormente conhecida abrangia a Flórida e Antilhas (Santa Cruz e São Vicente), entre 161 e 339 m. Este trabalho registra pela primeira vez a família para o Brasil.

Eiconaxius carinatus (Bouvier 1925) is characterized, mostly, by smooth rostral lateral carinae, merus of major chela with smooth dorsal carina, palm of major chela with dorsal carina evident and length of fingers of minor chela less than the palm length. One specimen was collected off the state of Maranhão (00º 08' N and 44º32'W) in a depth of 247 m; this species was known previously from Florida and West Indies (Saint Croix and Saint Vincent), in depths between 161 and 339 m. This record is the first record of this family for Brazil.

É apresentada uma revisão das dez espécies de Podochela Stimpson, 1860 encontradas nas costas caribenha e atlântica da América do Sul. Três espécies permanecem no gênero Podochela: P. brasiliensis Coelho, 1972, P. grossipes Stimpson, 1860 e P. macrodera Stimpson, 1960. P. atlantica Coelho, 1997 é removida para Anisonotus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879, P. riisei Stimpson, 1860 para Coryrhynchus Kingsley, 1879 e P. botti Türkay, 1968, P. gracilipes Stimpson, 1871 e P. minuscula Coelho, 1972 para Ericerodes Rathbun, 1897; Coryrhynchus algicola Stebbing, 1914, (classificada como Podochela por vários autores), permanece como Coryrhynchus. Podochela meloi Sankarankutty, Ferreira & Cunha, 2001, é transferida para Inachoides H. Milne-Edwards & Lucas, 1843 (Inachoididae). São apresentados caracteres diagnósticos e chaves de identificação para os gêneros e espécies estudados.

A review of ten Podochela Stimpson, 1860 species found in South American Caribbean and Atlantic coasts is carried out. Three species remain in the genus Podochela: P. brasiliensis Coelho, 1972, P. grossipes Stimpson, 1860, and P. macrodera Stimpson, 1860. Podochela atlantica Coelho, 1977, is removed to Anisonotus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879; P. riisei Stimpson, 1860 is transferred to Coryrhynchus Kingsley, 1879, and P. botti Türkay, 1968, P. gracilipes Stimpson, 1871, and P. minuscula Coelho, 1972 are moved to Ericerodes Rathbun, 1897; Coryrhynchus algicola Stebbing, 1914 (classified as Podochela by several authors), remains as Coryrhynchus. Podochela meloi Sankarankutty, Ferreira & Cunha, 2001, is removed to Inachoides H. Milne-Edwards & Lucas, 1843 (Inachoididae). Diagnostic characters and identification keys for genera and species studied are provided.

A carcinofauna dos ambientes marinhos e costeiros das regiões sudeste e sul da Bahia, Brasil, ainda é pobremente conhecida. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um inventário da fauna de crustáceos decápodos do município de Ilhéus, localizado no sudeste da Bahia (14º47'55"S, 39º02'01"W). As amostragens foram realizadas de Fevereiro de 2001 a Fevereiro de 2005, nas zonas supra, meso e infralitoral. Os exemplares coletados foram fixados em etanol 70% e depositados na coleção de crustáceos da Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus (MZUESC). Foi coletado um total de 51 espécies pertencentes a 14 famílias. A família mais representativa em termos de número de espécies foi Ocypodidae, representada nas amostragens por 8 espécies. A distribuição geográfica conhecida para as espécies Alpheus heterochaelis (Caridea: Alpheidae), Merguia rhizophorae (Caridea: Hippolytidae) e Sesarma curacaoense (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) foi estendida. A ocorrência do siri exótico Charybdis hellerii, originário do Indo-Pacífico, foi registrada para o estuário do rio Cachoeira. Estes resultados indicam que os estuários de Ilhéus abrigam elevada riqueza de espécies.

The carcinofauna from marine and coastal environments from the southeast and southern Bahia, Brazil, is so far poorly known. The objective of this study was to survey decapod crustaceans occurring along the estuarine environments of Ilhéus, located on the southeast coast of Bahia (14º47'55"S, 39º02'01"W). Samplings were carried out from February 2001 to February 2005, covering supratidal, intertidal and subtidal habitats. Voucher specimens were fixed in ethanol 70% and deposited in the collection of Crustacea of the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus (MZUESC). We report a total of 51 species, belonging to 14 families. The most representative family concerning the number of species was Ocypodidae, represented in our samples by 8 species. Geographic range known for the species Alpheus heterochaelis (Caridea: Alpheidae), Merguia rhizophorae (Caridea: Hippolytidae) and Sesarma curacaoense (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) was enlarged. The Indo-Pacific portunid crab Charybdis hellerii was recorded for the Cachoeira river estuary. The results indicate a high species richness of decapod crustaceans in the estuarine environments of Ilhéus.

O presente estudo analisou a maturidade sexual fisiológica de Goniopsis cruentata no estuário do rio Paripe, Pernambuco, Brasil. Os caranguejos foram amostrados mensalmente de agosto 1999 a julho de 2000, com uma aparelho de pesca artezanal e com esforço de pesca de uma hora. Depois da amostragem, todos os indivíduos foram sexados, a largura da carapaça (LC) foi medida e o organismo dissecado para análise macroscópica das gônadas. Foram analisados um total de 664 espécimens (324 machos, 228 fêmeas sem ovos e 112 ovígeras) com a predominância de indivíduos maturos para ambos os sexos. O tamanho em que 50% dos machos apresentam-se fisiologicamente maturos na população amostrada é de 31,64 mm e as fêmeas com 28 mm. A menor fêmea ovígera encontrada mediu 30,5 mm. Para G. cruentata foi observado uma sincronia no início da maturidade sexual para ambos os sexos. Este fato é usualmente encontrado entre os Brachyura, particularmente entre grapsídeos.

This study analyzed physiological sexual maturity of Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) in the Paripe Estuary, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Crabs were sampled monthly from August 1999 to July 2000, with a specific fishing gear, with one hour effort per sampling period. After sampling, all individuals were sexed; the carapace width (CW) was measured and organism it was dissected to observe the macroscopic gonad development. A total of 664 specimens were sampled (324 males, 228 females without eggs and 112 ovigerous) with predominance of sexually mature individuals for both sexes. The male's size (CW 50%) was 31.64mm and female's one was 28mm. The smallest ovigerous female found had a 30.5mm. For G. cruentata it was observed a synchronicity at the beginning of the sexual maturity for both sexes. This fact is usually observed among Brachyura, mainly the Grapsidae.

Chasmocarcinus arcuatus sp.n. from Amapá, Chasmocarcinus hirsutipes sp.n. from Pará and Chasmocarcinus meloi sp.n. from Alagoas, Brazil are described.

Several families were added in the past in order to constitute the Xanthidae, but the boundaries between Xanthidae, Parthenopidae and Goneplacidae were diluted, and the classification of some genera doubtful. By this reason was made the analysis of a typical genus of each subfamily occurring in Brazil. 50 characters were selected and coded as (0) for absence and (1) for presence. The data matrix was analysed by computer programs NTSYS and NMIX. The phenetic analysis shows the Xanthidae as a good family, but the cladistic one (Wagner tree) split them in four families: Carpiliidae, Xanthidae (with the subfamilies Menippinae, Platyxanthinae, Xanthinae and Eucratopsinae), Eriphiidae and Pilumnidae (with the subfamilies Trapeziinae and Pilumninae). Redescriptions and identifications keys for the proposed families and subfamilies are presented.

The Brachyura collected on the continental shelf of Northern and Northeastern Brazil understood between the latitudes 4º27'N and 3º43'S and the longitudes of 50º00'W-38º00'W, were represented by 133 species, 79 genera and 15 families. The studied material, belongs to the carcinological collection of the Department of Oceanography of University Federal of Pernambuco. The informations obtained in relation to the areas in which these species are found, were gathered from the carcinological files cited above and bibliographic rcferences published until 1991. The majority of the species (125) was found exclusively in the western Atlantic, except three Anfi-Atlantics, two Anfi-Americans, two Circuntropicals and one Indo-Pacific. With regards to the latitude, 11 species were gathered with southern limits in the studies area, 17 species with northern limits in the studied area, six species restricted to the studied area and 99 with northern and southern limits out of the studied area.

This paper presents a contribution to the study of the Crustacea, Decapoda of Brazil, including identification keys and informations on species range. Data related to the species of family Portunidae are published.

A new species of Meticonaxius from Brazil (Crustacea, Decapoda, Callianideidae). Meticonaxius capricorni, sp. n., is described from material collected off Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo States, in depths of 139-214 metres. The genus Meticonaxius up to now has 3 species in Brazil: M. lemoscastroi Rodrigues & Carvalho, M. minutus Coelho and this new species

The majid spider crab Nibilia antilocapra (Stimpson), previously known from the West Atlantic coast, between the Lesser Antilles and North Carolina, is reported as found by fishermen on the Rio Grande do Norte coast, Brazil.

The authors have studied the geographical distribution of 33 freshwater prawn species found in Brazil and surrounding areas, as part of a research project which views the development of a national technology for the freshwater prawn culture. The fauna comprises litoral species found in lowlands along the coast, in areas limited at the south by the 15ºC isotherm for the average air temperature of the coldest month, and continental species, which can be separated in tropical, subtropical and temperature ones, whose occurrence areas were delimited by the 20ºC and 15ºC average air temperature of the coldest month.

Prawn growth in intensive culture ponds depends upon the cultured species and internal (nutrition state) and external (pond condition) factors. To obtain growth taxa in aquaculture for the "canela" prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum), experiments were carried out at Amapá and Pernambuco, Brazil. The initial prawn population of Amapá ponds carne from different places of the Amazon river, while those from Pernambuco from hatcheries of the Departamento de Oceanografia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Physico-chemical and biological analyses of the water were made at the same time. The growth rate was estimated through collections of samples of about 10% of the initial population, with measures of the orbital length of each individual. Ponds' harvests were done when most of the population presented an orbital length equal to or larger than 80 mm. The present results showed 70 mm average size after 3-4 months of the post-larvae settlement to be the ideal for harvesting, favouring the utilization of this species for intensive aquaculture. Data on correlation, orbital and total growth, and weight gain were obtained during prawn growth.

Proper site selection is fundamental in the success of any aquiculture enterprise. To identify suitable areas for freshwater prawn culture in Pernambuco, factors like elevation, relief, soil and climate were considered, in accordance with the species biology and pond construction. According to the established criteria, suitable, unsuitable and unfavorable areas, with some restrictions, were recognized. Suitable areas for freshwater prawn culture in Pernambuco are about 835 km², representing 0.85% of the total area of the State.