Northernmost occurrence and geographic distribution of Scyllarides astori Holthuis, 1960 (Scyllaridae) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Abstract

The Galapagos slipper lobster (Syllarides astori Holthuis, 1960) is a species extensively distributed on rocky and coral reefs, sand, and mud in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, within the Gulf of California, Galapagos Archipelago, mainland Ecuador, and Isla de Cocos. Its presence has been reported in the southern region of the Baja California peninsula (Los Cabos). Here we report the presence of S. astori in the Baja California peninsula from Natividad Island, Guadalupe Island, and Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago. The Guadalupe Island record extends the distribution of this species 1,055 km north of its known limit. We developed a potential distribution model, and the results revealed a high probability of occurrence in different regions of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, such as the Baja California coast, Gulf of California, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Keywords
Baja California; biogeography; distribution; Galapagos slipper lobster; new record