Decapoda - Brachyura - Epialtidae - Huenia

Huenia brevifrons Ward, 1941



World Distribution
Griffin & Tranter (1986 : 76), Sakai (2004 - CD). Indo-ouest Pacifique. Maldives, Laccadives, Philippines, Chine, Japon. Also Comoros (?Mayotte), French Polynesia.

Environnement : Marine - Substrat/Association : Associated with algae

Vertical range : Shallow-waters (0-100 m) - Min-Max observed: 15-22 m

Mayotte data
Huenia brevifrons Ward, 1941 sensu lato
Material examined — Mayotte KUW 2009, st. 17, northern reef, 22 m, 1 M 7.0 x 5.6 mm, MNHN B32565, MNHN-IU-2009-1325.
Remarks — This species is associated with algae Halimeda being mimetic of its calcified green segments. The specimen from Mayotte is attributed to H. brevifrons s.l. because it is distinct from H. brevifrons typical, as described in Griffin & Tranter (1986), by a front more rounded, with a small subrostral spine, and legs non carinated and cylindrical similar to the form H. aff. brevifrons of Griffin & Tranter (1986). However as it maches well the male H. brevifrons illustrated from Japan by Takeda et al. (1976). The morphological differences observed herein are perhaps sex/size related.
Geographical and depth ranges — IWP, Mayotte (this work, first record in WIO), Laccadives/Maldives to Japan, French Polynesia; subtidal to 22 m.

Central Pacific data (Wallis & Futuna, Polynesia, Clipperton, Easter Island)
Huenia brevifrons - AAMP, Marquesas, 2012, Leg 2, St 35, Tahuata, 15 m, coll. N. Evans, sample 0510, pre-det. & photo J. Poupin

References : PDF list, 214 pp (1.4 Mo)

This species in Worms Database