Palinurus charlestoni

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Palinurus charlestoni

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Family: Palinuridae
Genus: Palinurus
Species:
P. charlestoni
Binomial name
Palinurus charlestoni
Forest & Postel, 1964

Palinurus charlestoni is a species of spiny lobster which is endemic to the waters of Cape Verde. It grows to a total length of 50 cm (20 in) and can be distinguished from other Atlantic species in the genus by the pattern of horizontal bands on its legs. It was discovered by French fishermen in 1963, and has been the subject of small-scale fishery since. It is thought to be overexploited, and is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Description

Palinurus elephas is a related species from the north-east Atlantic Ocean.

The total length of Palinurus charlestoni can reach 50 centimetres (20 in), with the average size around 40 cm (16 in).

pereiopods (walking legs), but no chelae (claws).[3]

In life, P. charlestoni is red to violet, but quite variable in colour.[3] The carapace is red with white spots, while the abdomen is red with sharp white stripes on either side of the midline.[4]

P. charlestoni can be distinguished from the other Atlantic species of Palinurus by overall colouration (being less brown than the other species), and more specifically by the patterns on the pereiopods; in P. mauritanicus, they are mottled and in P. elephas they are marked with longitudinal stripes, but in P. charlestoni, they are marked with narrow white bands alternating with wider red bands.[5]

Distribution and ecology

Palinurus charlestoni is endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago.[6] It is found at depths of 50–400 m (160–1,310 ft), but with the greatest densities at depths of 100–250 m (330–820 ft).[6] It prefers steep, rocky territory, where the water is at a temperature of 13–14 °C (55–57 °F).[6]

Life cycle

Palinurus charlestoni breeds from June onwards, peaking in the period August–November.

pleopods for 4–5 months until hatching, which begins in November and peaks in December or January.[7] From March to May, females have never been observed carrying eggs.[7] The young animals grow through a series of moults, which have been observed in captivity in February and March.[8] Females reach sexual maturity at a carapace length of around 90–110 millimetres (3.5–4.3 in).[9] During its adult life, Palinurus charlestoni appears to undergo seasonal migrations, preferring waters at a depth of 100–200 m (330–660 ft) in summer, but 150–250 m (490–820 ft) in winter.[10]

Fishery and management

Palinurus charlestoni first became the subject of fisheries in 1963, when three French vessels that had previously fished for P. mauritanicus off Mauritania prospected the waters of the Cape Verde islands.

type specimens for the species description.[12] In 1966, the Portuguese government extended their territorial waters to 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) offshore, preventing the French boats from fishing those waters. In 1975, Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal, although Portuguese vessels continued to fish there.[11]

All catches of P. charlestoni are made with

wire netting, and are 1.5–2.0 m (4 ft 11 in – 6 ft 7 in) long, 1.15–1.50 m (3 ft 9 in – 4 ft 11 in) wide and 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) high.[11] Mackerel and horse mackerel are used to bait the traps, which are then left overnight.[11]

The size of the historical catch is not known in detail; one estimate for 1976 was 50 t, around 20–60 t was caught annually between 1982 and 1990, and production probably peaked in 1991/92, when the catch was around 85 t. Since then, the catch has generally shrunk, dropping to 14 t in 1996/97, or 35 t in 1998/99.[11]

P. charlestoni is protected by a number of laws in Cape Verde. A limited number of licences are granted (only five in 2006), and a

Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.[1]

Taxonomy

The Notre-Dame de Rocamadour, part of the original French fishing fleet that discovered P. charlestoni

Palinurus charlestoni was first described by

Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle.[14]

Evolution

P. charlestoni is one of six extant species in the genus

Tethys Sea.[16]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T170046A6720146.en
    . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Holthuis (1991)
  3. ^ a b Forest & Postel (1964), p. 105.
  4. ^ Forest & Postel (1964), p. 106.
  5. ^ Forest & Postel (1964), pp. 109–110.
  6. ^ a b c d Groeneveld et al. (2006), pp. 386–387.
  7. ^ a b c Groeneveld et al. (2006), p. 389.
  8. ^ Groeneveld et al. (2006), pp. 392.
  9. ^ Groeneveld et al. (2006), p. 391.
  10. ^ Groeneveld et al. (2006), p. 394.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Groeneveld et al. (2006), p. 402.
  12. ^ Forest & Postel (1964), p. 100.
  13. ^ a b c Groeneveld et al. (2006), p. 404.
  14. ^ a b Forest & Postel (1964), p. 101.
  15. ^ Chan (2010), p. 159.
  16. ^ a b Groeneveld et al. (2006), p. 396.
  17. ^ Groeneveld et al. (2007)

Bibliography

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