Guinotia is a monotypic genus of freshwater crabs in the family Pseudothelphusidae,[5] containing only the species Guinotia dentata,[4] commonly known as cyrique.[6] They have few predators.[7] Found in the West Indies, they are easily caught[6] and thus are used locally as a food source.[8]
Guinotia dentata is almost oval in shape and the teeth on its carapace are very small. It is a yellow-brown colour and its shell can grow to 65 millimetres (2.6in) long; it is about 3/5 long as wide.[6][8] The eyestalks are yellow whilst the corneas are black,[6] but they are probably best identifiable by their large yellow claws with straight sharply pointed fingers.[9]
The species sometimes has almost an entire dorsal surface of carapace yellow with submarginal brown.[10]
Its shell has a cervical meandering curve which does not quite touch the edge of the shell. About 24 cubicles are well defined. The forehead is low, excavated and depressed and of uniform height.[11] Its pereiopods are fairly average and its chelae are without prominent, swollen protuberance on outer surface near the base of the fingers.[10]
Distribution and habitat
Guinotia dentata in Dominica
The species is native mostly to Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia.[1] Its distribution is fragmented because of its presence on multiple islands, but it is plentiful in the regions it inhabits.[1]
Guinotia dentata lives mostly in streams (particularly shady ones)[7] and ponds and may sometimes be seen on land, though it avoids areas that are excessively dry.[5] It has not yet been observed in estuaries.[7] It lives in streams and rives in the highlands of the Lesser Antilles, not including the Virgin Islands.[1][12] They are known to hide under roots of trees, rocks and rotten wood where they dig shallow burrows which are oval in shape.[8][13] They have been spotted at altitudes of 2,850ft (870m).[6] They certainly inhabit the Boeri Lake and may inhabit Freshwater Lake.[14]
The largest threat to the species is habitat destruction, and a protected area has been established on Dominica to conserve them.[1]
Reproduction
Reproduction takes place entirely in fresh water, and breeding takes place all year round; there does not seem to be a breeding season.[7] The young undergo direct development, hatching as juveniles, without passing through any larval stages. The females carry the eggs and protect the young[8] who stay with their mother for a period after hatching.[7]
↑ Pretzmann, G. (1965). Vorläufiger Bericht über die Familie Pseudothelphusidae. Anzeiger der mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1965(1): 1–10
↑ Gerhard Pretzmann (1965). "Vorläufiger Bericht über die Familie Pseudothelphusidae"[Preliminary report on the family Pseudothelphusidae](PDF). Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien (in German). 1: 1–11. Archived(PDF) from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
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