First record of Say’s mud crab <I>Dyspanopeus sayi</I> (Smith, 1869) from the Seudre estuary (Marennes-Oléron, French Atlantic coast).

International audienceThe Say’s mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869), native to the Atlantic coast of North America, was reported for the first time in the Seudre estuary (Marennes-Oléron Bay, south-west France). In all, twenty-four crabs were collected from subtidal shelly, muddy bottoms located in the polyhaline part of the estuary in April and October 2007, and subsequently in October 2012. The specimens were identified according to their distinctive morphological characters. A critical review of the available literature clarified its European Atlantic range and supported the view that this is actually the first record for the French Atlantic coast. Life history traits of D. sayi, as well as vector(s) of introduction into the Seudre estuary, remain to be elucidated but they are likely to be involved with the Marennes-Oléron shellfish trade