Soft-bottom decapod and stomatopod crustaceans of the continental shelf off Jalisco and Colima, Mexico

Abstract

A systematic list of decapod and stomatopod crustaceans of the soft bottoms of the continental shelf off Jalisco and Colima, Mexico, is presented. The specimens were obtained as part of an integral study on the biodiversity and fisheries potential of the marine resources of the eastern tropical Pacific region. Eighty-four shrimp trawls were done at seven localities, with four stations within each locality, at 20, 40, 60 and 80 m depth. The sampling schedule was reapeated three times during one annual cycle (from May 1995 to March 1996) in order to include seasonal changes of the fauna. A total of 60 species is 13.7% of the total reported for the region between Banderas Bay and Guatemala (457 species). Some zoogeographic and biodiversity aspects are discussed that confirm previous results for the region. The extension of geographic ranges for two species is reported.