Epixanthus dentatus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae) is a predator crab, commonly inhabiting East African mangroves, whose nocturnal and elusive behaviour usually prevents analysis of its natural diet and prey selection. The present study was carried out on it population inhabiting a peculiar mangrove habitat in which E. dentatus produces heaps of non-ingested parts of its prey. Fifty-nine of these accumulations of prey remains were examined and 17 species were identified as part of the diet of E. dentatus. Relative prey consumption was then analysed with respect to the relative abundance of prey species within the local faunal community. This methodology provided important information about pi-ey selection by E. dentatus; in particular, gastropods were always strongly under-represented, while there was an active selection among the different crab species. Uca species were under-represented, while swimming crabs were also part of the E. dentatus diet, which shows that the latter is able to prey both at low and high tide.

Prey selection of Epixanthus dentatus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae) as determined by its prey remains / M. Vannini; S. Cannicci; S. Fratini. - In: JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. - ISSN 0025-3154. - STAMPA. - 81:(2001), pp. 455-459. [10.1017/S0025315401004088]

Prey selection of Epixanthus dentatus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae) as determined by its prey remains

VANNINI, MARCO
Conceptualization
;
CANNICCI, STEFANO
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
FRATINI, SARA
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
2001

Abstract

Epixanthus dentatus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae) is a predator crab, commonly inhabiting East African mangroves, whose nocturnal and elusive behaviour usually prevents analysis of its natural diet and prey selection. The present study was carried out on it population inhabiting a peculiar mangrove habitat in which E. dentatus produces heaps of non-ingested parts of its prey. Fifty-nine of these accumulations of prey remains were examined and 17 species were identified as part of the diet of E. dentatus. Relative prey consumption was then analysed with respect to the relative abundance of prey species within the local faunal community. This methodology provided important information about pi-ey selection by E. dentatus; in particular, gastropods were always strongly under-represented, while there was an active selection among the different crab species. Uca species were under-represented, while swimming crabs were also part of the E. dentatus diet, which shows that the latter is able to prey both at low and high tide.
2001
81
455
459
Goal 15: Life on land
M. Vannini; S. Cannicci; S. Fratini
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
vanninietal_JMariolAssUK01.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Versione finale referata (Postprint, Accepted manuscript)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 94.15 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
94.15 kB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/204930
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 11
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 11
social impact