Cyanagraea, DE SAINT LAURENT, 1984

Martin, Joel W. & Haney, Todd A., 2005, Decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps: a review through 2005, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (4), pp. 445-522 : 492

GENUS CYANAGRAEA DE SAINT LAURENT, 1984 CYANAGRAEA PRAEDATOR DE SAINT LAURENT, 1984

Type locality: north-eastern Pacific Ocean, EPR; 12°48.85′N, 103°56.60′W; 2620 m .

Known range: Eastern Pacific Ocean, hydrothermal vents between 9°N and 18°S on the EPR ( Guinot 1988, 1990, 1997, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997; de Saint Laurent, 1984; Guinot & Hurtado, 2003).

Material: type locality; BIOCYATHERM, dive 33; 8 March 1982; MNHN-B 10709 (holotype female) ( de Saint Laurent, 1984). –type locality; dive 34; 2620 m (?); date not provided; MNHN-B 10710 (paratype, 1 female) ( de Saint Laurent, 1984).

–M-Vent hydrothermal site; 09°50.83′N, 104°17.57′W; 2535 m; MISSION HOT 96, Nautile PL 1081/22; 10 March 1996; MNHN-B 25398 (non-type, 1 male) ( Guinot & Segonzac, 1997). –same locality; 2535 m; PL 1083/24; 12 March 1996; MNHN-B (nontype, 1 female) ( Guinot & Segonzac, 1997).

–Elsa hydrothermal site; 12°48.85′N, 103°56.30′W; 2630 m; HERO 91, Nautile dive 14; 18 October 1991; depository not named, likely MNHN (nontype, 1 female) ( Guinot & Segonzac, 1997). –Elsa hydrothermal site; 12°48.13′N, 103°56.30′W; Nautile PL 1089/30; 2630 m; 19 March 1996. Non-type: 1 female, depository not named; Mission Hot 96 ( Guinot & Segonzac, 1997). –Elsa hydrothermal site; 12°48.13′N, 103°56.30′W; Nautile PL 1091/32; 2630 m; 21 March 1996. Non-type: 1 female, MNHN-B 25399; Mission Hot 96 ( Guinot & Segonzac, 1997).

– EPR, 12– 13°N, Pogonord site, 2600 m, Biocyarise 1984 expedition, dive 34, 2 large females ( MP-B12822 ) ( Guinot, 1988).

–Totem site (12°48.816′N, 103°56.433′W), from sides of smokers, 4 specimens ( Gorodezky & Childress, 1994).

Additionally, Hessler & Martin (1989) mentioned 3 specimens of Cyanagraea praedator collected by SIO researchers on the French HYDRONAUT Expedition to the EPR; it is not clear if any of those specimens are the same as those mentioned above .

Remarks: Despite the impressive size of this species (females may reach 123 mm in carapace width), it is not often encountered or collected. Guinot & Segonzac (1997) reported seeing (but not collecting) large crabs possibly belonging to this species on the southern East Pacific Rise (17– 19°S), extending the known range to the south; however, the uncertainty (because they could not examine any specimens) led them to refer to the southern EPR species as Cyanagraea sp. ( Guinot & Segonzac, 1997: 121). Knowledge of the biology of C. praedator includes studies on oxygen consumption and regulation by Gorodezky & Childress (1994) and on haemocyanin functional properties by Chausson et al. (2001). Guinot (1997: 213, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997) summarized what little is known of the species’ ecology. The species, which is almost invariably found near black smoker vents, is associated with alvinellid polychaetes, which also make up part of its diet, along with other worms and young Bythograea crabs (Guinot, 1997, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997). Secretan & Guinot (1988) described the endophragmal skeleton. The male of the species was described by Hessler & Martin (1989) in their description of Austinograea williamsi . Guinot & Segonzac (1997) mentioned seeing (but not collecting) a large crab at the 31°S site of the EPR that might have been Cyanagraea , but, because of the large range extension this would be, and the lack of specimens, we are somewhat doubtful of that record.