Sesarma angolense

Sesarma (Chiromantes) angolense De Brito Capello, 1864

Sesarma angolensis.—Büttikofer, 1890:487.—Johnston, 1906:861.—Longhurst, 1958:88.—Gauld, 1960:71.

Sesarma (Holometopus) angolensis.—Dartevelle, 1950:48.—Monod, 1956:445, fig. 605.—Rossignol, 1962:120.

Sesarma (Holometopus) angolense.—Dartevelle, 1950:50.—Capart, 1951:191, fig. 76.—Rossignol, 1957:92, 122 [key].—Jordan, 1957:198.—Humes, 1957:186, 187, 189.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Pillsbury Material: None.

Other Material: Liberia: No specific locality, 1890, 1897, J. Demery, 2 (L). Grand Cape Mount near Robertsport, 1882, J. Büttikofer, 4, 3 (L).

Nigeria: Mayuku Creek near Ugbekoko, 10 km W of Sapele, Midwest State, ca. 05°54′N, 05°34.5′W, Oct, Oct-Dec, Dec 1975, Jan 1976, C. B. Powell, many specimens (L). Niger delta between Brass and Port Harcourt, May–Aug 1960, H. J. G. Beets, 1, 2 (L).

Angola: Lobito, 1899, P. Kamerman, 1, 2 (L).

DESCRIPTION.—Rathbun, 1921:451; Capart, 1951:191.

Figures: Rathbun, 1921, pl. 43, pl. 45: fig. 1; Capart, 1951, fig. 76; Monod, 1956, fig. 605.

Color: Rossignol (1957:92) gave a detailed description of the color of this species.

BIOLOGY.—Rathbun (1921) gave extensive notes on the biology and habitat of this species. It inhabits mangroves and was found by Mr. C. B. Powell (in litt.) “in shallow holes, perhaps burrows, in the intertidal mud among mangroves.” Humes (1957) reported that this species was the host of the harpacticoid copepod Cancrincola abbreviatus Humes. Ovigerous females have been recorded in December (Capart, 1951).

DISTRIBUTION.—The species is restricted to West Africa and is known from Sierra Leone to Angola. Records in the literature, additional to the ones given by Monod (1956), are the following:

Sierra Leone: Rokupr (Jordan, 1957). Rice bunds, Sierra Leone River (Longhurst, 1958).

Liberia: No specific locality (Büttikofer, 1890; Johnston, 1906).

Ghana: No specific locality (Gauld, 1960).

Congo: Loya River (Rossignol, 1957, 1962). Pointe-Noire (Rossignol, 1962). Loeme River about 18 km S of Pointe-Noire (Humes, 1957).

Zaire: Maléla, Katala, Zambi, and Île de Mateba, estuary of the Congo River; Tumuna [?], estuary of the Rio Shiloango (= Louango River) (Dartevelle, 1950).

*Sesarma (Chiromantes) buettikoferi De Man, 1883

Sesarma büttikoferi.—Büttikofer, 1890:464, 487.—Rossignol, 1957:91, fig. 6, pl. 2: fig. 5.

Sesarma buettikoferi.—Johnston, 1906:861.

Sesarma (Holometopus) buttikoferi.—Dartevelle, 1950:48.

Sesarma (Holometopus) buettikoferi.—Monod, 1956:447, figs. 606, 607.—Rossignol, 1962:121.

Sesarma (Holometopus) büttikoferi.—Rossignol, 1957:91, 122 [key].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Pillsbury Material: Nigeria: Sta 1, Lagos harbor, shore, 1 (W).

Other Material: Liberia: Grand Cape Mount, near Robertsport, 1882, J. Büttikofer, 1 (L). Lake Piso (as Fisherman's Lake), near Robertsport, Jan 1881, J. Büttikofer and J. A. Sala, 1 holotype (L, Crust. D. 148). Rock Spring, Monrovia, Apr 1894, O. F. Cook and G. N. Collins, 4, 3 (W). Junk River, 1882, F. X. Stämpfli, numerous specimens (L). Junk River, 1 dry (W). Farmington River at Snafu Docks, Nov 1946, H. A. Beatty, 10, 6 (1 ov) (W). Bromley [?], W. Mann, Smithsonian-Firestone Liberia Expedition, 3 (W).

Ivory Coast: Near Lagune Ébrié, about 17 km W of Abidjan, among rotting leaves in rainwater puddles in hollow trees in shaded areas, 11 Aug 1963, B. de Wilde-Duyfjes, 1 specimen (L). Near ORSTOM office, Lagune Ébrié, 11 Aug 1963, W. J. J. O. de Wilde, several males and females (L).

Nigeria: Mayuku Creek near Ugbekoko, about 10 km W of Sapele, 05°54′N, 05°37′E, in mangrove swamp, Oct–Dec 1975, C. B. Powell, 28 specimens (1 ov) (L).

Cameroon: Kribi, among humid dead leaves on the bank of a forest stream not far from the sea, 8 Aug 1964, B. de Wilde-Duyfjes, 1, 2 (L).

Zaire: Banana, mouth of the Congo River, Jul–Aug 1915, H. Lang, American Museum Congo Expedition, 1, 1 (W). Maléla, 8 Jun 1915, H. Lang, American Museum Congo Expedition, 22, 10 (2 ov) (W). Zambi, 4 Jul 1915, H. Lang, American Museum Congo Expedition, 1 juv (W).

DESCRIPTION.—Rathbun, 1921:449.

Figures: Monod, 1956, figs. 606, 607; Rossignol, 1957, fig. 6.

Color: The specimens from Lagune Ébrié carried a note stating that in life the chelae are purplish blue with red tips. Additional color notes were provided by Rossignol (1957:91).

BIOLOGY.—This species inhabits littoral estuarine areas, particularly mangroves and adjoining inland regions (see Rathbun, 1921:449, 450).

Ovigerous females have been collected in March, June, July–August, and October through December (Rathbun, 1921; Rossignol, 1957; present paper).

DISTRIBUTION.—Sesarma buettikoferi is found along the West African coast from Liberia to Angola. Monod (1956) listed the locality records known to him; to these the following can now be added:

Liberia: No specific locality (Büttikofer, 1890; Johnston, 1906).

Congo: Mouth of the Songololo River (Rossignol, 1957, 1962). Pointe-Noire (Rossignol, 1962).

Zaire: Kunga, Maléla, and Katala, in estuary of Congo River (Dartevelle, 1950).