New altitudinal record of trichodactylus fluviatilis (Latreille, 1828) (Decapoda, trichodactylidae) in Brazil

Abstract

Trichodactylus fluviatilis (Latreille, 1828) (Decapoda, Trichodactylidae) is a crab species that lives in mountainous rivers and streams at altitudes up to 500m. Its distribution ranges from South America from the Basins of eastern coast of Brazil to basins of the Upper Paraná River and Argentina. The main objective of this study was to register a new occurrence of T. fluviatilis at a Conservation Unit in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais and provide a new altitudinal record for this species in Brazil. The samples were taken between October 2004 and July 2005. We collected three live T. fluviatilis individuals - two males and one female. We also analyzed the stomach contents of 16 Hydromedusa maximiliani specimens, of which in six were found Trichodactylidae crab body parts. Most species of Brazilian Trichodactylidae live at elevations until to 500m above sea level. In this study, T. fluviatilis was collected at elevation of 770m above sea level, expanding the range of altitudinal distribution of this species in Brazil. Prior to this study, there were no reports of T. fluviatilis in Juiz de Fora; therefore this study is a new record of this trichodatcylid in Minas Gerais State.