Sexual and regional variation in the morphology of the spotted anemone shrimp Periclimenes yucatanicus (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae)

Abstract

Sexual and regional variations in the morphology of the spotted anemone shrimp Periclimenes yucatanicus were evaluated, based on 99 specimens from the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Honduras, and the Florida Keys. For each shrimp, measurements were made of 74 characters (continuous variables), and data from an additional 17 characters were recorded in categorical form (discrete variables). Continuous variables were consolidated to 45 prior to data transformation and analysis. Of 62 final variables assessed, 14 were statistically significant. Sexual differences were minor (on the average, females were larger than males based on carapace length), and no important regional differences were apparent. The spotted anemone shrimp appears to be taxonomically homogeneous across the locations examined.