Intertidal crab burrows as a low-tide refuge habitat for a specific gobiid: preliminary evidence for commensalism
R. J. Wasserman A B and B. P. Mostert A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
B Corresponding author. Email: ryanwas21@gmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 65(4) 333-336 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13081
Submitted: 30 March 2013 Accepted: 14 August 2013 Published: 23 October 2013
Abstract
Mud crab (Scylla serrata) burrows in an estuarine mangrove intertidal zone were identified as potential microhabitats for small fishes. The pool-like habitats, created by these burrows, were sampled for fishes during nocturnal and diurnal low tide events, over the new moon period. A total of 1103 fish, comprising a single gobiid species (Redigobius dewaali), were collected from eight burrow-pools. The utilisation of these burrow-pools by large numbers of a single ichthyofaunal species suggests that there is a degree of commensalism between S. serrata and R. dewaali in these intertidal habitats.
Additional keywords: Eastern Cape, Mgazana Estuary, Redigobius dewaali, Scylla serrata, South Africa.
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