GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION OF EUROPEAN SPECIES OF LIOCARCINUS (CRUSTACEA, PORTUNIDAE) - A GENE-ENZYME STUDY

Populations of L. depurator from Greek and Scottish seas as well as sa mples of L. marmoreus from Scotland, were allozymatically analyzed. Th eir genetic structure was then compared with our previous analyses of Liocarcinus species, to test genetic similarities and to supply new st atistical elaborations that would better define genetic differentiatio ns and give some hints on phyletic relationships within the genus. New analyses suggest a subspecific splitting of L. depurator and also giv e support to the allocation of present Liocarcinus taxa to different g enera. More precisely, it has been possible to define three generic gr oupings: the first group comprises L. marmoreus and L. vernalis, toget her with the type species of the genus L. holsatus, and it could be re ferred to as Liocarcinus [sensu stricto]; the second group contains L. depurator and, presumably, also the morphologically related L. boliva ri; the third group consists of L. I maculatus and L. arcuatus. Allozy me data on genetic differentiation agree almost exactly with a recentl y subdivision of the genus Liocarcinus, proposed mainly on morphologic al evidences. Necora puber, which, up to 1987, was included in Liocarc inus, appears to be representative of a distinct genus.