Puerto Rico - Collecting (Update)
Moderator: Mustafa
Puerto Rico - Collecting (Update)
Due to logistical difficulties, I am no longer scheduled to travel, as I initially anticipated, to Costa Rica; I'll instead be collecting in Puerto Rico (specifically, about the fringe of the Caribbean National Forest - 'El Yunque'). Does anyone here know what species, apart from Atya scabra, A. innocous, A. lanipes, Macrobrachium acanthurus, M. carcinus, M. crenulatum, M. faustinum, M. heterochirus, and Xiphocaris elongata, occur on the island?
Last edited by Veneer on Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hi,
I live in Puerto Rico, and as far as I understand, all native wildlife is protected under Commonwealth law and thus illegal to capture. Sadly, due to introduction of many foreign animals it is extremely rare to find truly native species, as most have been displaced by more aggressive invaders. I can remember 20 years ago when Macrobrachium rosenbergi(sp?) used to be sold(for food) by the hundreds on the roadsides between Aguadilla and Anasco on the west coast - they inhabited the Culebrinas River and got to be pretty big - almost lobster size! Over-fishing and pollution have just about decimated the species and many others, not to mention predation of larvae by introduced fish such as catfish, jack dempseys, tilapias, jewelfish, jaguar cichlids, oscars, and many more.
Glass shrimp(don't know their name), and a couple other species of drab-looking crayfish, are still pretty common but mostly in hard-to-reach streams up in the mountains away from human populations; they get washed downstream by flooding when heavy rainstorms hit.
I live in Puerto Rico, and as far as I understand, all native wildlife is protected under Commonwealth law and thus illegal to capture. Sadly, due to introduction of many foreign animals it is extremely rare to find truly native species, as most have been displaced by more aggressive invaders. I can remember 20 years ago when Macrobrachium rosenbergi(sp?) used to be sold(for food) by the hundreds on the roadsides between Aguadilla and Anasco on the west coast - they inhabited the Culebrinas River and got to be pretty big - almost lobster size! Over-fishing and pollution have just about decimated the species and many others, not to mention predation of larvae by introduced fish such as catfish, jack dempseys, tilapias, jewelfish, jaguar cichlids, oscars, and many more.
Glass shrimp(don't know their name), and a couple other species of drab-looking crayfish, are still pretty common but mostly in hard-to-reach streams up in the mountains away from human populations; they get washed downstream by flooding when heavy rainstorms hit.
Thank you for your insight.
This set of regulations spoke of the provision of recreational fishing licenses for freshwater shrimp, and conversations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials stationed in San Juan seemed to corroborate the legality of such collection (if conducted beyond national park boundaries). Are you familiar with any of the species listed under Appendix 2 (page 35) of the aforementioned document?
This set of regulations spoke of the provision of recreational fishing licenses for freshwater shrimp, and conversations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials stationed in San Juan seemed to corroborate the legality of such collection (if conducted beyond national park boundaries). Are you familiar with any of the species listed under Appendix 2 (page 35) of the aforementioned document?
Are you perhaps referring to Macrobrachium carcinus?Iggy wrote:I can remember 20 years ago when Macrobrachium rosenbergi(sp?) used to be sold(for food) by the hundreds on the roadsides between Aguadilla and Anasco on the west coast - they inhabited the Culebrinas River and got to be pretty big - almost lobster size!
I looked through the species mentioned in that appendix,and the only one I am familiar with is the first one, A. innoccus(or A. innocous)...it's probably the most common one i've come across besides a species that runs about an inch long and is transparent(fairy or glass shrimp???). The last one is a real beaut(M. heterochirus) but i've never come across it. Then again, shrimp aren't my forte - tropical and reef fish, and reptiles are what I mostly take care of as a hobby and/or observe in the wild.
An image to whet anticipation, so to speak:
Cardisoma guanhumi
(Click on thumbnail to enlarge.)
Notes: Carapace approximately ovoid - respectively 10 and 6.5 cm at widest and narrowest points. Matted tufts to both sides of mandibles are gills.
I discovered this particular specimen whilst attempting to dislodge a Macrobrachium acanthurus from a crevice in ring of emergent boulders. The crab clamped onto a proffered twig (pictured) with its dominant cheliped, failing to loosen its grip even after it was drawn completely clear of the water; thus suspended, it was carried to the opposite bank.
Cardisoma guanhumi
(Click on thumbnail to enlarge.)
Notes: Carapace approximately ovoid - respectively 10 and 6.5 cm at widest and narrowest points. Matted tufts to both sides of mandibles are gills.
I discovered this particular specimen whilst attempting to dislodge a Macrobrachium acanthurus from a crevice in ring of emergent boulders. The crab clamped onto a proffered twig (pictured) with its dominant cheliped, failing to loosen its grip even after it was drawn completely clear of the water; thus suspended, it was carried to the opposite bank.
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GunmetalBlue
- Shrimpoholic
- Posts: 263
- Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:10 am
- Location: CA
Afterwards, did you manage to dislodge the Macrobrachium acanthurus and get a pic? 
GunmetalBlue wrote:Whoa what a brut, that could have been your finger! :lol: Afterwards, did you manage to dislodge the Macrobrachium acanthurus and get a pic?
That particular specimen darted out into reach several times but ultimately withdrew beneath an immovable rock, leaving only its antennae visible.
I felt the trip moderately successful - more images will be forthcoming.Overall, did you have a successful journey? Looking forward to seeing a list of organisms encountered and some more pics if you have them...
Nice crab. 
Now let's see more pics. You should have found a bunch of these guys under stones, too:
http://www.petshrimp.com/macrobrachiumfaustinum.html
Now let's see more pics. You should have found a bunch of these guys under stones, too: http://www.petshrimp.com/macrobrachiumfaustinum.html
Sorry for the delay - I've been experiencing problems with my wireless internet router.Mustafa wrote:Nice crab. :) Now let's see more pics. You should have found a bunch of these guys under stones, too:
http://www.petshrimp.com/macrobrachiumfaustinum.html
Oddly enough, I encountered only one apparent M. faustinum (likely due to the fact that the water bodies I was able to investigate were either montane or artificial):
(Unfortunately, the specimen succumbed to airpump failure prior to departure.)
Thanks for the pics. How common were the Xiphocaris in the rivers and creeks there? Did you catch them all in the El Yunque rainforest area? Did you see any Nerite snails there?
By the way...you should have taken some of that moss that the snails crawl on with you. It looks like it might be grown fully submersed.
By the way...you should have taken some of that moss that the snails crawl on with you. It looks like it might be grown fully submersed.
Ironically, most of the shrimp I caught were obtained from an apparently artifical pool located in - for lack of a better word - an iguana pit situated below the main entrance ramp of the Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort. Here, Xiphocaris, exceeded in number only by a small ghost shrimp-type Palaemonid, were to be found clustered on submerged rocks or hovering above the bottom. While I did not see any nerites, my overview of local sites was far from complete.
I brought back two dozen Palaemonid "ghost shrimp", rather fewer Xiphocaris elongata, one filter-feeding Atyid (probably Atya lanipes), one Macrobrachium acanthurus, and several undetermined Macrobrachium spp.Nion wrote:So what all did you bring back? And how?
The last few times I've been to PR the security at San Juan International has been pretty tight. Always get my carry-on searched.
When I checked with representatives of the San Juan branch of USFWS and the USDA, both stated that their respective agency held no jurisdiction over domestic movement of freshwater shrimp. Customs officials, when contacted, similarly claimed no need to fill out paperwork or obtain licenses.
I was able to enclose most species within water bottles (taking care to enclose a small piece of filter "cotton"), but I was forced to singly pack larger species (Atya lanipes and certain Macrobrachium spp.) inside assorted plastic cases (namely, a LaMotte Water Quality container, cylindrical Carolina Biological Supply vials, and rigid toiletry cases) sealed with heavy-duty waterproof tape (as sold for first aid purposes). All these were placed within carry-on luggage, clearing both USDA and TSA inspections without incident. No manner of declaration form was provided.
Shipping casualties were remarkably low, but it should be known that all specimens were fasted in a mechanically aerated holding container for several days and that care was taken to keep shrimp density per container as low as possible.
Nonetheless, I can't make any statements, one way or the other, as to the typicality of my experience.