TY - JOUR AU - Gorny, Matthias AU - Pereda, Raul PY - 2021/12/31 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - First description of the composition and distribution of decapod crustaceans in channels of central Patagonia (Chile): in situ observations made with a ROV in the inner waters of the Katalalixar Natural Reserve JF - Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia JA - AIP VL - 49 IS - SE - DO - 10.22352/AIP202149021 UR - https://analesdelinstitutodelapatagonia.cl/article/view/998 SP - AB - <p>Between 2008 and 2019 a systematic study of the benthic fauna was conducted in the Natural Reserve Katalalixar (KNR), located south of the Penas Gulf and between the North and South Patagonian Icefield located in Central Patagonia, in order to determine the composition of decapod crustacean species present in this sparsely investigated geographic area. Registers of decapods were obtained by underwater video with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). A total of 17 species of decapods was identified, belonging to 12 families, and representing the infraorders Caridea (1 species), Anomura (7 species) and Brachyura (9 species). Decapods were frequent, occurring in 80% of the stations between 5 and 220 m, of visual documentations by ROV. All identified species were registered in Chilean Patagonia before. However, the presence of the crabs <em>Pisoides edwardsi </em>Nicolet 1894 and <em>Pinnixia bahamondei </em>Garth 1957 in the Adalberto channel extended the known geographical distribution range towards south of the Taitao Peninsula (48°S). The families Majidae (Brachyura) and Paguridae (Anomura) were the most divers ones, represented by 3 species each and the squat lobster <em>Munida gregaría </em>and the shrimp <em>Campylonotus vagans </em>were the most frequent species, with a wide bathymetric range, distributed between 20 and 100 and 20 to 120 m, respectively. The decapod fauna of the KNR is highly representative, comprising 25% of the species described for the Chilean fjord and channel region, and 2 species distributed even around Antarctica. The results obtained in the KNR signify an important contribution to the knowledge of the fauna of crustaceans of Chile, considering that only few studies have been carried out in Central Patagonia before,</p><p>&nbsp;</p> ER -