International Journal of Marine Science, 2017, Vol.7, No.36, 361-365
362
Specimens are preserved in 70% alcohol and deposited in the marine science center (MBD-MSC) (collection
number: 40, 41 for
P. convexus
and
E. orientalis
, respectively).
Figure 1 Sampling sites, indicating the position of the Khor Al-Zubair in the northern part of the Arabian Gulf.
The specimens of two species were identified following Ghani and Davie (2000), Ghory et al. (2013).
The main abiotic parameters in the study area by the time of collection were as follows: salinity 16 ppt, water
temperature 18°C, pH 7.45.
1.1 Study area
Khor Al-Zubair canal is an extension of the Persian-Arabian Gulf waters in the lower reaches of Mesopotamia
(Figure 1). It has a length of approximate 42 km, and a width of 1km at low tide, with an average depth of 10~20
m. In 1983, this water body was connected to an oligohaline marsh (Hor Al-Hammar,), by the Shatt Al-Basrah
Canal, changing the environment of lagoon of the Khor from a hypersaline to an estuary (Hussain and Ahmed,
1999).
2 Results
2.1 Systematics
Order: Decapoda Latreille, 1802. Superfamily: Xanthoidea MacLeay, 1938. Sub Family: Pilumnidae Samouelle,
1819. Family: Pilumninae Samouelle, 1819 (Figure 2A);
Pilumnopeus convexus
Maccagno, 1936 (Figure 2B)
2.1.1 Material examined
Carapace measurements are length (CL) ×breadth (CB) mm, respectively.
Total 18 specimens (11 males and 7 females) collected during 2016.
In 10/3/2016 were five males (15.5 ×21.4), (16.9 ×24.2), (17.5 ×25.3), (18.5 ×26.2), (19.8 ×2 7.6) mm. and
three females (16.5 ×25.8), (16.2 ×24.7), (17.4 ×25.7) mm.
In 24/12/2016 were six males(7.5 ×14.3), (9.6 ×14.8), (11.7 ×16.5), (13.4 ×19.9), (17.9 ×24.8), (17.1 ×25.6)
mm, and four females (7.4 ×12.1), (8.3 ×13.6), (12.4 ×17.1), (16.8 ×24.5) mm. Collected by hand under rocks
during lower tidal.
2.1.2 Description
Carapace smooth, broader than long (Figure 2A). Dorsal surface with rows of small rounded granules along
transverse cristae on frontal, gastric and branchial regions, covered with scattered plumose setae of varying
