Description of Panulirus brunneiflagellum new species with notes on its biology, evolution, and fisheries

Abstract

The new species is distinguished from its nearest relatives by the colour and patterning of the anntennual rami. Panulirus brunneiflagellum is morphologically close to P. japonicus and is restricted to the subtropical Ogasawara Islands in the west Pacific. It probably became isolated from the P. japonicus stock with the development of the unique Ogasawara oceanic circulatory system as a result of the deflection of the Kuroshio subgyre as the Iwo-Jima Ridge uplifted. Over 90% of the annual production of c. 5 t is frozen and transported to the Tokyo market, Japan. © 2005, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.