Cleaning the mud: Integrative approach clarifies the taxonomy of mud crabs of the genus Panopeus H. Milne Edwards, 1834 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Panopeidae) along the Southwestern Atlantic Author Oliveira-Rogeri, Lucas Author França, Nielson Felix Caetano Author Peres, Pedro Augusto Author Mantelatto, Fernando L. text Zoologischer Anzeiger 2023 2023-11-30 307 96 124 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2023.10.001 journal article 10.1016/j.jcz.2023.10.001 1873-2674 Panopeus herbstii Rathbun, 1930: 336 (part); Coelho and Ramos, 1972: 190 (part); Williams, 1984: 412 (part). 3.2.1. Type material Holotype . Brazil : Paran´a: 1 male , USNM 59462 ( Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History ), Paranagu´a, 03.x.1925 (accessed). 3.2.2. Material examined Brazil : Par´a: 1 female (CW 22.5 mm ), MPEG 0838 , Curuç´a, 0 ◦ 35’6.84’’S , 47 ◦ 50’42.48’’W , 28.viii.2009 ; 1 female (CW 28.4 mm ), MPEG 0839 , Curuç´a, 0 ◦ 35’6.67’’S , 47 ◦ 50’48.92’’W , 29.v.2010 ; 1 female (CW 11.8 mm ), CCDB 6503 , Salin´opolis, 0 ◦ 36’49.24’’ S , 47 ◦ 20’35.36’ ’W, 15.vi.2012 ; 1 male (CW 29.9 mm ), CCDB 4450 , Sao ˜ Joao ˜de Pirabas , 0 ◦ 46’1.21"S , 47 ◦ 10’12.4"W , 16.xi.2012 . – Maranh˜ao : 3 male (CW 26.9 mm , 27.5 mm and 34.9 mm ) and 1 female (CW 26.1 mm ), CCDB 6600 , S˜ao Jose´de Ribamar , 02 ◦ 30’31’’S , 44 ◦ 01’42’’W , 06. xii.2019 ; 2 male (CW 33.5 mm and 36.8 mm ), CCDB 6603 , S˜ao Jose´de Ribamar , 02 ◦ 27’55’’S , 44 ◦ 06’0’’W , 06.xii.2019 ; 1 male (CW 32.7 mm ), CCDB 6669 , S˜ao Jose´de Ribamar , 02 ◦ 36’53’’S , 44 ◦ 06’2’’W , 10. xii.2019 . – Cear´a: 2 male (CW 9.2 mm and 15.1 mm ), LABOMAR 592, Camocim; 1 male (CW 21.7 mm ) and 1 female (CW 28.3 mm ), CCDB 2345 , Fortaleza , 03 ◦ 43’25.4’’S , 38 ◦ 29’26.7’’W , 22.v.2008 ; 1 male (CW 23.67 mm ), LABOMAR w/n, Rio Pacoti. – Rio Grande do Norte : 2 male (CW 8.2 mm and 11.8 mm ), CCDB 7283 , Nísia Floresta , 6 ◦ 0.56’14’’S, 35 ◦ 0.86’80’’W, 20.ix.2020 ; 1 male (CW 40.1 mm ), CCDB 6743 , Nísia Floresta , 6 ◦ 5’25.7’’S , 35 ◦ 6’0.1’’W , 27.iv.2014 . – Pernambuco : 1 male (CW 26.9 mm ), CCDB 5858 , Ipojuca , 08 ◦ 33’41.84’’S , 35 ◦ 01’24.89’’W , 20.vii.2015 . – Bahia : 1 male (CW 23.6 mm ) and 2 female (CW 14.8 mm and 26.3 mm ), CCDB 2599 , Ilh´eus, 14 ◦ 48’30’’S , 39 ◦ 01’32’’W , 31. iii.2009 . – Espírito Santo : 1 female (CW 13.7 mm ), CCDB 1755 , Guarapari , 03.iii.2006 ; 2 female (CW 13.4 mm and 27.9 mm ), CCDB 2240 , Guarapari , 04.xi.2006 ; 1 male (CW 20.9 mm ), CCDB 2248 , Guarapari , 20 ◦ 39’S , 40 ◦ 30’W , 04.xi.2006 . – Rio de Janeiro : 1 male (CW 22.6 mm ) and 1 female (CW 13.5 mm ), CCDB 4787 , Paraty , 23 ◦ 12’05’’ S , 44 ◦ 43’22’’ W , 06.vii.2011 ; 6 male (CW 15.1 mm , 23.9 mm , 27.6 mm , 31.2 mm , 31.5 mm , 39.3 mm ) and 7 female (CW 18.6 mm , 19.1 mm , 20.3 mm , 22.1 mm , 22.3 mm , 24.5 mm , 26.5 mm ), CCDB 3449 , Paraty , 23 ◦ 12’42’’ S , 44 ◦ 42’55’’ W , 06.vii.2011 . – S˜ao Paulo: 1 male (CW 33.4 mm ), CCDB 230 , Ubatuba , 23 ◦ 25’20.03"S , 45 ◦ 3’42.61"W , 11.vii.1998 ; 2 male (CW 13.8 mm , 29.8 mm ), CCDB 3277 , Ubatuba , 23 ◦ 27’S , 45 ◦ 02’W , 04.iv.2011 ; 2 female (CW 13.8 mm , 16.8 mm ), CCDB 6736 , Ubatuba , 23.iv.2012 ; 1 male (CW 17.6 mm ), CCDB 224 , Sao ˜Sebastiao ˜, 23 ◦ 48’78.1’’S, 45 ◦ 24’46.9’’W , 09.x.2000 ; 2 male (CW 25.4 mm and 33.2 mm ), CCDB 226 , S˜ao Sebasti˜ao , 23 ◦ 48’78.1’’S, 45 ◦ 24’46.9’’W , 09. x.2000 ; 1 male (CW 16.9 mm ), CCDB 2519 , S˜ao Sebasti˜ao , 23 ◦ 48’78.1’’S, 45 ◦ 24’46.9’’W , 01.ix.2004 ; 1 male (CW 43.9 mm ), CCDB 5170 , S˜ao Sebasti˜ao , 10.ix.2013 ; 1 male (CW 19.5 mm ) and 1 female (CW 28.5 mm ), CCDB 2452 , Cananeia , 24 ◦ 59’45,1’’ S , 47 ◦ 54’16,9’’ W , 30.viii.2011 ; 1 male (CW 18.5 mm ), CCDB 5519 , Cananeia , 10.iii.2012 ; 1 male (CW 28.3 mm ), CCDB 5869 , Cananeia , 07.xii.2012 – Paran´a: 1 male (CW 27.6 mm ) and 2 female (CW 16.4 mm and 25, 8 mm ), CCDB 2285 , Guaratuba , 25 ◦ 52’29.9’’S , 48 ◦ 34’51.1’’W , 19.ii.2008 . – Santa Catarina : 1 female (CW 23.9 mm ), MZUSP 13726 , Bombinhas , xii.1998 . 3.2.3. Diagnosis Front quadrilobed with slightly prominent outer lobes and shallow median sinus. Dorsal surface of carapace with transverse granulate striations weakly marked, carapace with smooth appearance; carapace regions not raised. Five teeth forming anterolateral margin of carapace; first and second round-shaped separated by a shallow sinus; third sub-quadrate, while fourth and fifth triangular. Carpus of chelipeds finely granulated, not giving a rough aspect to the structure. Carpal groove not evident. Inner surface of the third maxilliped ischium containing pigmented spot which varies in colour in preserved specimens. Sternites 3 and 4 with prominent granules; suture between these sternites covered by a continuous fringe of setae. Width of pleonite 6 shorter at the distal end than at the proximal end; length: width ratio of pleonite 6 greater than 0.70; socket of pleonal locking mechanism not reaching the half of pleonite 6. Gonopods with trilobed apex typical of Panopeus , lateral tooth bifid. Vulva more than half the length of the sternite 6; vulva with reniform shape. 3.2.4. Variation Some specimens present a flattening near the distal margin of the carpus of chelipeds which resembles the carpal groove found in other species. However, the flattening can be distinguished from the groove because the latter is more defined, more visible and often deeper than the former. In addition, some specimens may present an ornamentation pattern in the sternites 3 and 4 that resembles small punctuations, rather than granulation. 3.2.5. Distribution Western Atlantic – Brazil (Para´, Maranh˜ao, Piauí , Cear´a, Rio Grande do Norte , Pernambuco , Bahia , Espírito Santo , Rio de Janeiro , S˜ao Paulo, Parana ´, Santa Catarina , Rio Grande do Sul ) ( Marochi and Masunari, 2011 ; Mantelatto et al., 2020 ; present study).