Carapace shape of some Trichodactylidae crabs: analysis by geometric-morphometric tools as a possible way of including females in taxonomic differentiation

WILLINER V.; GIRI F.; COLLINS P.

Barcelona España

Simposio; I Iberian Simposiun of Geometric Morphometric 2009; 2009

Institut Català de Paleontologia

In a first analysis we can see that species show differences in the shape of their carapace. This occurs mainly in the position of the landmark positioned in the last spine of the carapace, provoking variations in the RW1. The changes are presented in the migration of the last spine from an anterior to posterior position. While the second RW, there is relative to balloon or angular shape of the carapace. Furthermore the difference between males and females was not significative in all species studies. The methodology of geometric morphometric analysis is a good tool to differentiation of species of the endemic freshwater crabs, Trichodactylidae family. Moreover, when in sampling programs are collected only female´s specimens, the carapace shape with the position of spine posterior could be used as a systematic value.