Deep-water decapod crustacean fauna of the Eastern Ionian Sea

Knowledge on the decapod crustacean fauna of the E. Ionian Sea was enriched by a recent research program, carried out in deep waters (300-1200 in) of its northern part. The data were collected from a total of 148 hauls towed during four experimental trawl surveys from September 1999 to September 2000. Thirty nine decapod species were identified, of which eight were Dendrobranchiata and 31 Pleocyemata (17 Caridea, 9 Brachyura, 3 Anomura, I Astacideum and I Palinurum). Concerning their depth distribution, 30 species were found in the depth zone 300-500 in, with Parapenaeus longirostris being the most abundant species. Plesionika heterocarpus and P. antigai followed in terms of abundance. Of the 27 species caught in the zone 500-700 m, Arislaeomorphafoliacea and Plesionika martia were the most abundant. In the zone 700-900 m, 19 species were found and Aristaeomorpha foliacea with Aristeus antennatus were the most numerous. Finally, the 18 decapod species encountered in the zone 900-1200 m showed low abundance, and Sergia robusta with Polycheles typhlops predominated in numbers. From the identified decapods, Acanthephyra eximia, Philoceras echinulatus and Pontophilus norvegicus were mentioned for the first time in the E. Ionian Sea. Some other species, such as Acanthephyra pelagica, Geryon longipes, Munida tenuimana, Paromola cuvieri, Parthenope macrochelos, Pasiphaea multidentata, Plesionika narval, Polycheles typhlops, Sergestes arachnipodus and Sergestes arcticus have been reported for the area only in the gray literature. Additionally, new depth distribution records for the Mediterranean were obtained for some species.