Cancer arenarius Zimmermann

Low, Martyn E. Y. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2012, The identities of Cancer arenarius Toreen, in Osbeck, 1765, Cancer arenarius Zimmermann, in Cavolini, 1792, Cancer (Mantis) arenarius Herbst, 1793, and Cancer (Gammarellus) arenarius Herbst, 1793, and other names associated with the genus Ocypode Weber, 1795 (Crustacea: Amphipoda, Decapoda,, Zootaxa 3398, pp. 40-57 : 46-47

Cancer arenarius Zimmermann , in Cavolini, 1792: a junior subjective synonym of Eriphia verrucosa ( Forskål, 1775) ( Decapoda : Brachyura: Eriphiidae )

Cavolini’s (1787) Memoria sulla generazione dei pesci e dei granchi in Italian is one of the earliest works on the embryology of fishes and crustaceans ( Oppenheimer 1936: 129). Cavolini (1787) only used Latin names when referring to taxa of other authors. In 1792, Zimmermann translated this work into German with the title Abhandlung über die Erzeugung der Fische und der Krebse. In this translation, Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792) Latinised many of the vernacular Italian names used by Cavolini (1787). Thus, all new names in the German translation (i.e. Cavolini 1792) are attributable to Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792). Although Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792), may have been simply translating Cavolini’s (1787) vernacular names into Latin, such names nonetheless constitute available names, as has been discussed in Low et al. (2010: 410).

One such name is the “Sandkrebs (granchio d’arena)” which was Latinised as “ Cancer arenarius ” by Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 117, footnote). On the previous page, Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 116) discusses the identity of the crab known variously as the “Taschenkrebs” [purse crabs], “παΎοʋρος” [pagurus], “Granciporo”, “Sandkrebs” and “granchio d’arena”. Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 116, footnote) refers to the works of Forskål (1775: 93, species 49), Mattioli (1568: 334; misspelt as “Mathioli”), and Scopoli (1763: 406, species 1125). Scopoli (1763: 406, species 1125) under the name Cancer pagurus “Linnaeus ” refers to Mattioli (1568: 334) who figures a species of crab called the “Granciporo”. The “Granciporo” of Mattioli (1568: 334) is a species that is today known as Eriphia verrucosa which was described by Forskål (1775: 93, species 49); a reference also cited by Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 116, footnote).

On the next page, Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 117) discusses how this species was wrongly included under the name Cancer pagurus by Linnaeus (1758: 626, 627) and subsequent authors. Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 117, footnote) then proceeds to distinguish the species of Forskål (1775), Mattioli (1568), and Scopoli (1763) by providing a description of this species in German, and a Latin diagnosis in a footnote (in which the name Cancer arenarius is applied).

The German diagnosis of Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 117) reads as follows:

“ Der Pagurus wohnt also an den Klippen am User, und vorzüglich an solchen Klippen, welche im Meere lothrecht abgeschnitten hervorstehen, und besonders da, wo sie in dieser Richtung vom Meere bespühlt werden. Der Krebs lauert in seiner höhle, mit List seine Beute zu überraschen. Mehr der Nachts als bei Tage, geht er aus seiner höhle, und klettert auf die Klippe ins Trockene. Sein Gang ist nicht sehr schnell, und wenn er seine höhle oder sein Lager verlässt, wird er sast immer von den Fischern gefangen. Sein Muskelbau ist dicht und stark. Seine grosste Stärke hat er in dem Kneipen seiner Escheeren. So lange er noch klein ist, nennen ihn unsre Fischer den haarigen Krebs (granchio piloso); wenn er gross ist, und das Haar an den Borderfüssen verloren hat, den Locherkrebs (granchio di pertugio). Nach dem Walkerkrebse hat dieser das beste Fleisch.” [This crab lives on the cliffs along the shore, and especially on isolated rocks surrounded by the sea. The crab lurks in its burrow to surprise its prey with cunning. Its habits are generally nocturnal. Its movements are not quick and if it leaves its burrow, it is almost always caught by fishermen. Its musculature is thick and strong. Its greatest strength is in its claws. While it is still immature and has hair on its walking legs, fishermen call it the hairy crab (‘granchio piloso’); once mature and having lost the lost the hair on its walking legs, it is called the hole-puncher crab (‘granchio di pertugio’). After the walking-crabs this has the best flesh.]

The Latin diagnosis of Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 117, footnote) is given as:

“ Cancer arenarius . Brachyurus ; laevis, thorace lateribus novem-plicatis, manibus laevibus, obsolete quinque-striatis. Affinis Paguro. Thorax ad latera elongatus: marginibus anticis untrinque plicis latiusculis tuberculiformibus novem, posticis elevatis in curvam strigam. Frons tuberculis tribus coalitis, quibus utrinque duo accedunt ad orbitam oculorum, oculorum pedicelli breviusculi. Brachia laevia, nec setosa, praeter carinas cubitorum: carpi subventricosi, externe plicis quinque longitudinalibus, obsoletis; interjectis venis anastomosantibus. Digiti atri, dentati. Pedes valde setosi, plantis profunde striatis; unguibus acutis. Habitat in arenosis plagis Neapolitani Crateris: retibus capitur.” [ Cancer arenarius . Brachyurous; carapace smooth with and nine-toothed; hands smooth, with five-obsolete grooves. Affinities with pagurids. Anterior margins of carapace with nine teeth, more acute towards posterior. Frontal margin with three coalesced tubercles, two on each side of which approach orbit of eyes; eyes on rather short pedicels. Arms smooth, not setose; except three keels; wrists subventricose; arms with five obsolete grooves on external portion. Fingers black, dentate. Feet very setose, tips of feet deeply striate, sharp. It lives in the sandy regions of Naples and is captured in nets.]

The references to Forskål (1775), Mattioli (1568), and Scopoli (1763), as well as the diagnosis of a slowmoving crab with a smooth carapace with three weak frontal lobes, setose ambulatory legs and large and strong chelipeds with black-tipped fingers readily identify Cancer arenarius Zimmermann , in Cavolini, 1792, with Eriphia verrucosa ( Forskål, 1775) ( Koh & Ng 2008: 329, 330, fig. 1A–C). The apparent contradiction between the description of “thorace lateribus novem-plicatis” or an anterolateral margin with nine teeth given by Zimmermann (in Cavolini 1792: 117, footnote) and the five to six teeth known in Eriphia verrucosa ( Forskål, 1775) , can be easily explained by the frequent presence of “accessory denticles” on these spines ( Koh & Ng 2008: 329). This identification is further supported by the fact that Eriphia verrucosa ( Forskål, 1775) , is found in Italian waters and is often sold for food ( Koh & Ng 2008: 329, 330), and is a predatory crab that uses its large and strong claws to crack open the shells of its mollusc prey ( Rossi & Parisi 1973).

Although Zimmermann (in Cavolini, 1792), was aware of (and appears to have renamed) Eriphia verrucosa ( Forskål, 1775) , the two names are not objective synonyms, as the Cancer arenarius of Zimmermann (in Cavolini, 1792), was based on the descriptions of Forskål (1775), Mattioli (1568), and Scopoli (1763), as well as on whatever specimens may have been available to him (and/or Cavolini 1787). Cancer arenarius Zimmermann (in Cavolini, 1792), should thus be regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Eriphia verrucosa ( Forskål, 1775) .