Setal diversity,trophic modes and functional morphology of feeding appendages of two callianassid shrimps,Callichirus major and Sergio mirim (Decapoda: Thalassinidea: Callianassidae)

In the present study we investigate the trophic behaviour, stomach content and morphology of the feeding appendages, with emphasis on setae, of two callianassids; a generalist feeder, Callichirus major (Say, 1818) and a strict deposit feeder, Sergio mirim (Rodrigues, 1971). Of the 87 setal types described, only 5% were common to both species. Setal types were clustered in four main categories; plumed, serrate, plumodenticulate and simple. Callichirus major has higher setal diversity than S. mirim. Relative to the amount of setal types present in each species, C. major has a higher ratio of serrate to plumodenticulate setal types and similar percentages of plumed and simple setae. Examining the setae and spatial position of the segments of the feeding appendages, it is possible to infer that the main function of the dactyli, propodi and basal endites is to brush particles, while the meri, ischia and coxal endites retain sediment. The setal diversity found on the feeding appendages reflected the diverse trophic strategies of the callianassid species studied. Exclusive deposit feeders, e.g. S. mirim, appear to have fewer setal types than generalist feeders, e.g. C. major. Apparently, the higher ratio of serrate to plumodenticulate setal types in Callianassidae depends more on the necessity to triturate particles prior to ingestion than on the trophic mechanism used by the species.