Coastal Mud Shrimp

Upogebia affinis (Say, 1818)

Gebia affinis Say, 1818:241.—DeKay, 1844:22.—White, 1847:71 [Say's type, part of abdomen, telson, and left uropod].—Leidy, 1855:150 [New Jersey]; 1888:333 [list].—Smith, 1873:549 [list].—Verrill, 1873:368, pl. 2: fig. 7 [nat. hist.], 519 [food, summer flounder], 520 [food, windowpane], 530 [occurrence juv.].—Kingsley, 1878:327 [distrib.]; 1899:824 [key].—Rathbun, 1905:17 [habitat, New England].

Upogebia affinis.—Stebbing, 1893:185 [nat. hist.].—Fowler, 1912:361, pl. 108 [summary].—Hay and Shore, 1918:408, pl. 29: fig. 9 [nat. hist.].—Fish, 1925:158 [plankton].—Pearse, 1945:303 [ecol.]; 1952:235 [bopyrid].—Behre, 1950:21 [occurence, Louisiana].—Deevey, 1960:41 [plankt. larv. occurrence].—Fingerman and Oguro, 1963:24 [chromatophores].—Dragovich and Kelly, 1964:80 [habitat].—McCloskey and Caldwell, 1965:114 [fungi in foregut].—Williams, 1965a:103, fig. 60 [nat. hist.]; 1965b:197 [host of Leptalpheus]: 1974b:16, figs. 44A, B [key]; 1984a:191, fig. 133 [nat. hist.]; 1986:10 [key, distrib.].—Gomes Corrêa, 1968:106 [tabular comparison], 107 [G part, figs. 16–21, 30, 31, not Brazilian material], 108 [key].—L.C. Thompson and Pritchard, 1969:114–129 [osmogreg.].—Rouse, 1970:140 [ovig. , plankt. larv.].—Sikora et al., 1972:519 [food, Urophycis spp.].—Van Engel and Sandifer, 1972:157 [occurrence Va.].—Sandifer, 1973a:98–104, figs. 1–4 [larv. stages]; 1973b:243 [plankt. larv.].—Thistle, 1973:1–14 [passim], 23 [diagn. char., key].—Basan and Frey, 1977:55, 58 [creek banks].—Frey and Howard, 1975:283 [nat. hist.].—Dörges, 1977:401, 405, 415 [creek banks].—Williams and Wigley, 1977:9, 43 [distrib.].—Frey and Basan, 1981:117 [habitat].—Ngoc-Ho, 1981:241, 243–247, figs. 6–8 [larvae].—Aller et al., 1983:571–604 [biochem., burrow water].—Chester et al., 1983:282 [estuarine distrib.].—Pemberton and Frey, 1985:241–257 [burrows].—Andryszak, 1986:214 [plankt. postlarv. descr.].

Upogebia (Upogebia) affinis.—De Man, 1927:50, figs. 19–19g [part, not Barbados and Brazilian specimens]; 1928:22 [list, U.S.A. specimens only], 36 [nat. hist.], 39, 46 [key].—Schmitt, 1935:196, fig. 58 [but not description, see U. mollipollex, new species, herein].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—U.S.A.: Massachusetts: USNM 2994, 3 , Wellfleet, H.E. Webster, 1879; USNM 38262, 1 , Martha's Vineyard Sound, U.S. Fish Comm., Verrill, Smith, Todd, 1871; USNM 13970, 4 , 7 , Head of Buzzards Bay, W. Nye, Jr., 17 Sep 1887. Rhode Island: USNM 104173, 3 , Wickford, R.U. Gooding, 22 May 1959. Connecticut: USNM 31288, 2 , Long Island Sound off Falkner Lt. and Madison, 28.3 m, U.S. Fish Comm., Fish Hawk sta 1701, dredge, 17 Sep 1892. New Jersey: MNHNP Th-1, 1 , 1 , from Yale [Peabody] Museum; USNM 251722, 1 , Mullica River, transect from Oyster Bed Pt. to Deep Pt., RCB-75-007, Ichthyological Associates sta 1, 25-ft semi-balloon trawl, R.C.B., H.K.H., M.R.N., M.C.W., G.J.M., 21 Apr 1975; USNM 251397, frag. abdomen, Cape May Point, H.G. [Richards], #1286, 20 Mar 1932; USNM 64739, Maurice River Cove, 4.6 m, H.G. Richards, #415, 14 Apr 1930 [poor condition]. Virginia: USNM 58308, 1 juv. (?), off Thimble Light, Chesapeake Bay, 28 m, Fish Hawk sta 8898, 4 Dec 1920; USNM 41747, 2 , 2 (1 ovig.), Virginia, H.E. Webster, Union College Collection; USNM 58293, 1 abdomen, Chesapeake Bay, 38°07′12″N, 76°13′30″W, 38 m, Fish Hawk sta 8388, 6 Dec 1915. North Carolina: USNM 66612, 4 , 7 (ovig.), 1 cephalothorax, Gallant Point, Beaufort Harbor, mud flats, Schmitt and Shoemaker, 14 Sep 1928; USNM 251398, 1 , Beaufort, W.H. Conn, Wesleyan Univ. Dept. Biol., Middletown, Conn., No. 667; USNM 67578, 1 , Beaufort, Newport River canal, bopyrid in branchial chamber, trawl, S.F. Hildebrand, 6 Mar 1931; USNM 81910, 1 tiny juv., Beaufort, A.S. Pearse, 11 Aug 1941; USNM 251399, 20 and spare parts, Beaufort, A.S. Pearse, summer 1944; USNM 251400, 50 (ovig.) and spare parts, 24 and spare parts, 1 bopyrid, Beaufort, A.S. Pearse, summer 1944 [poorly preserv.]; ZMK 1 juv., Bogue Sound, – m, Mary E. Petersen, 1 Mar 1965. South Carolina: USNM 23278, 1 , Parris Island, U.S. Fish Comm., Fish Hawk, 19 Jan [1891]; USNM 31289, 1 , May River near Bluffton (Beaufort Co.), Fish Hawk, 17 Jan 1891; USNM 31290, 1 , May River, Fish Hawk, 1891. Georgia: BMNH 124a, holotype [fragmentary, parts of abdomen and tail fan], Leach Collection, presented by Thomas Say; USLZ 3023, 2 (ovig.), Cabbage Island, Wassaw Sound, Chatham Co., intertidal in firm muddy sand, R.W. Heard, 4 Sep 1976; USLZ 3009, 11 , Sapelo Island, 29°02′50″N, 90°09′46″W, BLM-WIN-MC, P2E, SOO#9, 13 Jan 1979; USNM 174414, 1 small , off Georgia 31°13′N, 81°13′W, sta 0210-1-SA, 11 m, 21 Feb 1977; USNM 251421, 3 , 5 , St. Catherines Island, middle of North Beach, on surface, B. Winn and P. Small. 9 Oct 1990. Florida: FDNR EJ71418, 1 juv., St. Lucie Co., Hutchinson Island, E of F.P. & L. electrical generating plant, 27°21′23″N, 80°13′24″W, Shipek grab, R. Gallagher, M. Hollinger et al., 15 Sep 1971; FDNR EJ71125, 1 ovig., Gulf of Mexico, Monroe Co., Ten Thousand Islands, 2.9 naut. mi SW Rogers River, 25°26.7′N, 81°13.1′W, 2.7 m, R/V Venus, hydraulic clam dredge, W.C. Jaap and V.P. Williams, 6 Sep 1971; FDNR EJ74387, 1 ovig., Collier Co., inshore Marco Island, trough at Martinique Waterway entrance, 25°57′45″N, 81°42′51″W, 2.5 m, plug corer, C.M. Courtney, 5 Jul 1974; FDNR EJ71013, 1 , 1 ovig., Manatee Co., Tampa Bay, Manatee River, mi W Pt. Ogdeu, 27°30.7′N, 82°55′W, 1.5 m (5 ft), R/V Venus, hydraulic clam dredge, W.C. Jaap and T.A. Frakes, 18 Feb 1971; FDNR EJ67213, 1 (no legs), Gulf of Mexico, Hillsborough Co., 19 mi W Egmont Key, 27°37′N, 83°07′W, 18 m, R/V Hernan Cortez, Hourglass Cruise HC40, sta B, dredge, R. Presley, 2 Jun 1967; FDNR EJ78072, 1 , Hillsborough Bay and Co., 2.5 mi S Hillsborough River mouth, east side of channel, 27°51′N, 82°26′W, 6 m, shrimp trawl, R.G. Taylor and D. Nickerson, 19 Feb 1978; FDNR EJ72032, 1 , Pinellas Co., Old Tampa Bay, off Courtney Campbell Causeway, 2 mi W of Tampa public beach, 27°55′N, 82°38′W, shovel and seine, J.L. Simon, 1972; FDNR EJ71373, 1 , same, Nov 1971; FDNR EJ68030, 1 ovig., Gulf of Mexico, Pinellas Co., Tampa Bay, NNW west end of Courtney Campbell Causeway, 27°57′N, 82°41.5′W, 1.8 m (6 ft), R/V Venus sta 3, hydraulic clam dredge, R.J. Stokes, 15 May 1968; FDNR EJ69271, 3 , 6 (+ abdomen), Crystal River, offshore of power generating plant intake canal, Citrus Co., 28°56′N, 82°46′W, 3.3 m, screenwash (6-ft bag placed in sluiceway), R. Parrish, 20 Mar 1969; FDNR EJ69332, 1 , Levy Co., Rum Key, 29°07′N, 83°04′W, 1.5 m (5 ft), R/V Venus, hydraulic clam dredge, M.F. Goodcharles, 14 Oct 1969; FDNR EJ70358, 17 , 21 (2 ovig.), Franklin Co., bay side Alligator Point, shovel, 16 Oct 1970; St. Lucie Co., Indian River: HBOM 89:335, 1 , Big Mud Creek, burrow in sandy mud bottom by A1A bridge, intertidal, by hand, R.H. Gore, 19 Sep 1972; HBOM 89:1172, 1 , Jim Island, mud flat on oyster bar, intertidal, by hand, D. Putnam, 26 Jul 1974; HBOM 90:3098, 1 juv., Jim Island mud flats, intertidal in worm tubes, by hand, D.S.P, 7 Feb 1977; HBOM 89:3380, , Jim Island, intertidal, by hand, P.H., G.R.K., 23 Mar 1977; HBOM 89:6470, 1 , Little Jim flat near Ft. Pierce Inlet, intertidal sand, seagrass, by hand, R.S. Fox et al., sta RF-88-2, 3 May 1988. USLZ 3500, 2 , 5 (1 ovig., 4 fragmentary), Ft. Pierce, D.L. Felder, Aug 1989; USNM 251401, 2 juvs., St. Augustine, J.C. Pearson, 21 Jun 1935; USNM 251402, 1 juv., St. Augustine, J.C. Pearson, 8 Jul 1935; USNM 174415, 2 juvs. [near Flagler Beach], 29°27′N, 81°03′W, 20 m, sta 0886-2-7A, frags. (ID probable); USNM 251403, 4 , 3 , Indian River E of Little Jim Is. at marker No. 8 in channel N of Fort Pierce Inlet, 27°28.4′N, 80°18.6′W, muddy sand flat with some grass, yabby pump, R.B. Manning, sta FP-84-6, D.L. Felder, W.D. Lee, 11 Jul 1984; USNM 251183, 1 , Indian River, on A1A causeway between Fort Pierce and Fort Pierce Beach, 27°27.7′N, 80°18.7′W, flat with some grass exposed at low tide, R.B. Manning, sta FP-86-2, D.L. Felder, W.D. Lee, 11 Aug 1986; USNM 251184, 1 juv., same, S of A1A bridge, W side of main channel, yabby pump, R.B. Manning, sta FP-86-5, D.L. Felder, W.D. Lee, 14 Aug 1986; USNM 251185, 1 ovig., same, sta FP-87-3, 2 Mar 1987; USNM 251186, 1 , N side Fort Pierce Inlet, S side Coon Island, 27°28.2′N, 80°18.2′W, along shore, mud and hard packed sand, yabby pump, R.B. Manning, W.D. Lee, M. Schotte, C. King, sta FP-88-3, 21 Apr 1988; USNM 251187, 1 , 2 , Fort Pierce Inlet, across from Coast Guard Station on hard sand flat adjacent to Spartina, W.D. Lee and R.B. Manning, 15 Feb 1990; USNM 169918, 1 ovig., St. Lucie Co., Hutchinson Island, Big Mud Creek at Indian River, intertidal, seine, R.H. Gore, 27 Mar 1974; USNM 251188, 10 , 15 (6 ovig.), Miami, R.B. Manning, 22 May 1988; USNM 251189, 1 , 3 (2 ovig.), Key Biscayne, west side flats, yabby pump, R. Lemaitre, 28 May 1988; USNM 77567, 1 , 1 ovig., Sarasota Bay, W.E. Webster, Kingsley Collection #186; USNM 6461, 3 , 2 , Cedar Keys, in muddy sand between tides, H. Hemphill, Dec 1883; USNM 119331, 1 , Wakulla Co., Panacea, Rock Landing Pier, surface, J. Rudloe, 10 Feb 1966; USNM 93721, 2 , flats W Alligator Point [Alligator Harbor], hosts of types of Phyllodurus robustus Pearse 1952, H.J. Humm, 19 Jun 1952; USNM 251190, 1 , A.M. Harrison, 2327, frag. [very poor condition]. Alabama: USLZ 3024, 1 , Dauphin Island, Sea Lab jetties in muddy sand, Arthropod and Mollusk class, 11 Nov 1977. Mississippi: USNM 251191, 1 , 1 , Deer Island, extreme east end in mud and peat, M.W. Williams, sta M-14, 16 Nov 1943; USNM 251192, 1 , Harrison Co., Biloxi, M.W. Williams, sta 14-11, 15 Dec 1943; USNM 251193, 2 , 2 (1 ovig.), Little Deer Island, mouth of Biloxi Bay, intertidal, shovel, Jackson Invert. Zool. class, Gulf Coast Res. Lab., Jun 1983; USNM 87378, 1 ovig., Mississippi Gulf Coast, outlying islands and adjacent waters, J.F. Walker, sta 13, summer 1948; USNM 251723, 1 , Hancock Co., St. Louis Bay, Bay St. Louis, L. Hubricht, 3 Mar 1963. Louisiana: USLZ 3012, 1 , 021W500#6, Bay Marsh and Lease, Gulf of Mexico, 29°02′50″N, 90°09′46″W, BLM01-5245-800, 13 Jan 1979; USLZ 3013, 1 , same but 02PE500#7; USLZ 3014, 1 , same but 02PW2000#8; USLZ 3010, 1 juv., S of Miss. R. Delta, 28°34′09″N, 90°24′32″W, BLM-SM-MC, P4N2000#9, D. Felder, summer 1978; USLZ 44, 1 , 29°22.5′N, 92°10.5′W, ARCN1d44, 28 Jun 1968; USLZ 3105, 1 , Freeport Sulfur Co., Terrebone Parish, Caillou Island, 7.2 km (4.5 mi) NE western end of Timbalier Island, sta 5, 10-ft seine, LA, W.W. Forman, L.J. Kennain, 5 Feb 1980; USLZ 3011, 1 juv., Vermillion Bay, GIRI Dredging Project-sample IV-B, mud #3, 24 Aug 1976; USLZ 3015, 1 ovig., Chenier au Tigre, Vermillion Parish about 25 m from shore on Gulf of Mexico just E of freshwater Bayou, Ryan and L. Rogas, 13 Sep 1980; USNM 33104, 2 , Chandeleur Islands, L.R. Cary; USNM 221337, 3 larvae (U. affinis?), Gulf of Mexico, 10 km SW Calcasieu River, 29°39′52″N, 93°26′34″W, 1 m, B. Andryszak, 4 Jun 1984. Texas: USLZ 3501, 1 , 1 (juvs.), off Matagorda Island, 28°14′N, 96°29′W, 4/I HEV, BLM-STOCS study, 14 Feb 1976; USLZ 3022, 1 juv. (frag.), 7 Fathom Reef, sediment sample, D.L. Felder, 24 Jun 1971; USLZ 3499, 1, 1, Causeway Blvd., S Padre Island and Port Isabel, landward side, D.L. Felder, Jul 1991; USNM 82076, 1, 1, Rockport, J.W. Hedgpeth, 29 Dec 1945; USNM 172304, 1 juv., SE Corpus Christi, 28°14′N, 96°29′W, 10 m, N. Rabalais, 11 Oct 1976.

DIAGNOSIS.—Rostrum bearing 0–8 ventral spines. Projections to either side of rostrum ending in acute spine. Postocular spine present. Abdominal sternites unarmed. Carpus of cheliped with 2 strong spines on anteromesial margin. Merus of P2 with proximal mesioventral spine and 1 subdistal dorsal spine; merus of P3 with ventrolateral cluster of spines, that of P4 usually spineless.

DESCRIPTION.—Rostrum triangular, slightly downturned; median ventral keel bearing 1–8 (rarely 0) variably developed spines, but almost never ending in terminal projecting point; tip usually exceeding eyestalks in normal position by – their length, but sometimes barely so; dorsal pair of subapical spines followed on each side by 2 spines separated by slightly decreasing intervals; lateral ridge bearing crest of about 12 spines, strongest on process lateral to rostrum and decreasing almost to obsolescence posteriorly. Shoulder paralleling cervical groove bearing 1 spine, sometimes 2, below intersection with thalassinidean line, obsolescent tubercle occasionally above it. Postocular spine present.

Abdominal sternites unarmed.

T with well-developed median furrow, distal margin biarcuate; transverse proximal ridge confluent with lateral ridges unspined.

Eyestalk stout, deepest at about midlength, convex ventrally, concave dorsal side sometimes bearing 1–2 or more obsolescent tubercles in row; prominent terminal cornea narrower than diameter of stalk and directed ventrolaterally, sometimes triangular in lateral view, and occasionally with tiny mesiodistal spine on stalk above margin.

A1 peduncle reaching to about midlength of terminal article of A2 peduncle, its proximal 2 articles together slightly longer than terminal article, proximal article with small distoventral spine or angle.

A2 peduncle with about its length extending beyond tip of rostrum; article 1 bearing variable ventral spine, obsolete to strong and acute; article 2 bearing subdistal ventral spine; scale moderate, oval.

Mxp3 with epipod.

Epistomial projection rather broad in lateral view, bearing 1 spine at distodorsal corner.

Chelipeds with ventral margin of ischium bearing 1 spine. Merus with row of 4–5 spines on ventral margin, subdistal dorsal spine reaching level of postocular spine. Carpus trigonal, shallow longitudinal groove laterally, strong spine at anterior ventrolateral corner preceded by 1–4 spines in row; mesiodorsal crest of almost uniform small spines leading to prominent spine on anterior margin, short dorsal spine near articulation with merus partly obscured by setae; 2–3 (rarely 4) strong spines on anterodorsal margin mesial to articulation with propodus; 1 strong spine near middle of anteromesial margin, nearly equal spine dorsal to it, and very strong spine at distoventral corner. Chl about 2 times chh; spineless dorsal ridge, with erect dorsal spine near its proximal end, mesiodorsal row of spines erect proximally and variably obsolescent near distal margin of palm; distal margin bearing row of obsolescent tubercles, reinforced distal margin below mesial dactylar condyle bearing spine and 3–4 small rounded spines below this in fully adult male, less well developed in immature male; lower mesial surface bearing scattered spines; ventral keel with row of 2–5 spines proximal to base of fixed finger, low transversely arcuate beaded ridge near proximomesial corner. Fixed finger shorter than dactyl, continuing contour of lower margin of palm, though bowed ventrally, and tapering to slender tip, 3–5 teeth on proximal prehensile edge. Dactyl of male with corneous tip preceded on prehensile edge by toothless interval, tooth at length opposing tip of fixed finger, then row of about 6 closely crowded small teeth increasing proximally to larger tooth in proximal of length (sometimes only few large teeth in this row), and toothless section basally; arched extensor surface bearing rows of closely crowded beaded tubercles or spines separated by grooves and/or dense setae, largest tubercles erect proximally but becoming obsolescent distally, files of similar beaded granules on mesial and submesial surface; corneous tip in female preceded by slightly curved prehensile edge, strong tooth at length opposing tip of fixed finger, proximal to this a section with obscure small teeth, then large tooth at length, and toothless section basally; curved extensor surface bearing about 4 small tubercles proximally.

P2 reaching about to distal of palm; carpus with distodorsal spine and tiny acute or obsolescent subdistal ventral spine; merus with slender subdistal dorsal spine and strong proximal mesioventral spine; coxa with 2 or more spines on mesial aspect, often acute, and posteromesial margin variously lobed. Merus of P3 with cluster of spines and spiniform granules ventrolaterally, and sometimes slender distodorsal spine; coxa with low spine lateral to gonopore, sometimes spine on distomesial margin, and rarely still another spine anterior to gonopore. P4 with merus usually spineless, rarely with 2 tiny lateral spines near ischium.

U not exceeding length of telson; spine on protopod above base of mesial ramus; mesial rib of lateral ramus often bearing blunt spine proximally; distal margin of rami bearing uniformly spaced small granules.

MEASUREMENTS (in mm).—, acl 12.8, cl 18.8, chl 10.8, chh 5.8; ovig., same, 10.8, 16.1, 7.7, 2.7.

COLOR.—Gray, blue, or yellowish gray dorsally, tinged with light blue medially on tail fan and on tergite V, interlaced with uniform light lines; an oblique blue spot on side of carapace at base of antenna extending posterodorsally; legs lighter on articles, but joints and dactyls of chelae lighter grayish white; underparts light. (From various authors as summarized in Williams 1984a, and color slide of specimen photographed on overcast day at Ft. Pierce, Florida, by D.L. Felder, Aug 1986.)

KNOWN RANGE.—Massachusetts to southern Texas, U.S.A.

Shallow-waters (0-100 m)

Virginian, southside of Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras

Soft bottom (mud or sand)