Culturable fungi associated with the marine shallow-water hydrothermal vent crab <i>Xenograpsus testudinatus</i> at Kueishan Island, Taiwan

Abstract Reports on fungi occurring marine crabs have been mostly related to those causing infections/diseases. To better understand the potential role(s) of associated with crabs, this study investigated culturable diversity carapace shallow-water hydrothermal vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus collected at Kueishan Island, Taiwan. By sequencing internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), 18S and 28S rDNA for identification, 12 species were isolated from 46 individuals X. : Aspergillus penicillioides, versicolor, Candida parapsilosis, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Mycosphaerella sp ., Parengyodontium album, Penicillium citrinum, paxili, Stachylidium bicolor, Zasmidium sp. (Ascomycota), Cystobasidium calyptogenae Earliella scabrosa (Basidiomycota). With additional data other published reports, a total 26 (23 Ascomycota, three Basidiomycota) recorded . is most speciose genus crab, followed by All but one ( Xylaria arbuscula ) had previously substrates in environment, although many are typical terrestrial taxa. None reported pathogens some caused diseases animals. Whether vehicle fungal requires further study.