FIRST RECORD OF MONODAEUS GUINOTAE FOREST, 1976 (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA) IN THE SEA OF MARMARA (TURKEY) AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT ITS OCCURRENCE

Abstract

A total of 24 specimens of Monodaeus guinotae Forest, 1976 were obtained in beam-trawl surveys on 8 August 2008, 2 August 2011 and 4 August 2011 at depths of 56, 65 and 40 m, respectively, in the Sea of Marmara. M. guinotae is reported in this study as a first record for the Sea of Marmara and the status of the species is discussed in relation to its closely similar congener, M. couchii (Couch, 1851). Also, possible reasons for its occurrence are investigated according to the effects of pollution and of the various water masses in the Sea of Marmara.