AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

The atyid shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) rostrum: phylogeny versus adaptation, taxonomy versus trophic ecology

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2010
Authors:Jugovic, J, PREVORČNIK, SIMONA, Aljancic, G, SKET, BORIS
Journal:Journal of Natural History
Volume:44
Issue:41-42
Date Published:2010
ISBN Number:0022-2933
Keywords:Hirundinidae, Hirundo, Hirundo rustica
Abstract:Cave shrimps of the subgenus Troglocaris (Atyidae), exhibit high variability in rostral length and dentition. In shrimp populations that co-occur with the amphibian predator Proteus anguinus, longer rostra armed with more numerous teeth are recorded. These shrimps are also larger than those living in a presumably Proteus-free environment. Discrepancies between molecularly established phylogenetic relationships and distributions of rostral length, as well as body size, directed our search towards possible environmental influences. These discrepancies suggest that rostral shape is not a reliable taxonomic character in some generic and many specific diagnoses in Atyidae. We discuss some taxonomic consequences of sexual and ontogenetic rostral differences with regard to the molecular phylogenetic tree. In preliminary laboratory observations, no frontal attack by Proteus was successful on shrimps with long rostra. Proteus also needed more time to swallow shrimps with long rostra.Cave shrimps of the subgenus Troglocaris (Atyidae), exhibit high variability in rostral length and dentition. In shrimp populations that co-occur with the amphibian predator Proteus anguinus, longer rostra armed with more numerous teeth are recorded. These shrimps are also larger than those living in a presumably Proteus-free environment. Discrepancies between molecularly established phylogenetic relationships and distributions of rostral length, as well as body size, directed our search towards possible environmental influences. These discrepancies suggest that rostral shape is not a reliable taxonomic character in some generic and many specific diagnoses in Atyidae. We discuss some taxonomic consequences of sexual and ontogenetic rostral differences with regard to the molecular phylogenetic tree. In preliminary laboratory observations, no frontal attack by Proteus was successful on shrimps with long rostra. Proteus also needed more time to swallow shrimps with long rostra.
URL:http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222933.2010.502258
Short Title:Journal of Natural History
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith