A field guide to Kenyan
mangroves
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A field guide to Kenyan
mangroves
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Merguia oligodon (De Man, 1888)
Family: Hippolytidae
Zone: This semi-terrestrial shrimp onhabits the A. marina landward zone to R. mucronata zone in both fringe and riverine mangroves (Gillikin et al., 2001).
Habitat: In and around trees, under bark, climbs trunks and pneumatophores, N. smithi burrows (Vannini & Oluoch, 1993; Gillikin et al., 2001).
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Food: They graze the algal carpets blanketing mangrove roots (Vannini & Oluoch, 1993) and eat crab feces (Gillikin et al., 2001). Ecological notes: The shrimp remain out of water at high tide, and during the day retreat into suitable hiding places; they are strictly nocturnal (Vannini & Oluoch, 1993). They have strongly reflective eyes, which make them easy to spot at night with a torch. They occur in high densities in Kenyan mangrove and inhabit N. smithi burrows (Gillikin et al., 2001). Distinguishing characteristics: Similar to Merguia rhizophorae (Rathbun, 1900), but are conspicuously larger; carapace length from 5.6 to 7.8 mm; corneal diameter is about 0.22 of the carapace length; ova have a length of about 1.0 mm (Bruce, 1993). Geographical range: Have been found in the Malay Archipelago and surrounding areas (Kemp, 1914; Holthuis, 1947, 1958) and Mida Creek and Gazi Bay, Kenya (Bruce, 1993; Vannini & Oluoch, 1993; Gillikin et al., 2001). |
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References:
Bruce, A.J., 1993. The occurrence of the semi-terrestrial shrimp Merguia oligodon (De Man 1888) and M. rhizophorae (Rathbun 1900) (Crustacea Decapoda Hippolytidae) in Africa. Tropical Zoology, 6: 179-187.
Gillikin, D.P., S. De Grave and J.F. Tack, 2001. The occurrence of the semi-terrestrial shrimp Merguia oligodon (De Man, 1888) in Neosarmatium smithi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 burrows in Kenyan mangroves. Crustaceana 74(5): 505-508. (REPRINT)
Holthuis, L.B., 1947. The decapods of the Siboga Expedition, Part IX. The Hippolytidae and Rhynchocinetidae collected by the Siboga and Snellius Expeditions with remarks on other species. Siboga Expedition Monogr., 39(a8): 1-100.
Holthuis, L.B., 1958. Contributions to New Guinea carcinology. II. On Merguia oligodon (De Man). Nova Guinea, (new ser.) 9(2): 231-234. Kemp, S., 1914. Notes on Crustacea Decapoda in the Indian Museum. V. Hippolytidae. Records of the Indian Museum, Calcutta,10: 81-129.
Vannini, M. & A. Oluoch, 1993. Notes on Merguia oligodon (De Man 1888) the Indo-Pacific semi-terrestrial shrimp (Hippolytidae Natantia). Tropical Zoology, 6: 281-286.
