Leptalpheus felderi, Anker & Vera Caripe & Lira, 2006

Anker, Arthur, Vera Caripe, Jonathan A. & Lira, Carlos, 2006, Description of a new species of commensal alpheid shrimp (Crustacea, Decapoda) from the southern Caribbean Sea, Zoosystema 28 (3), pp. 683-702 : 688-690

Leptalpheus felderi n. sp.

( Figs 1-5 ; 6A, B )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Venezuela, Estado Nueva Esparta, Isla Margarita, southern shore near Guamache , sandy, slightly muddy substrate, near shore, close to mangrove and sea grass beds, with yabby pump, depth 0.5-1 m, from burrow of Upogebia omissa , 13.XII.2003, coll. A. Anker & J. A. Vera Caripe, 1 ovigerous ♀, CL 6.0, TL 20.0 (MNHN-Na 13620).

Paratypes: same locality and collectors as for holotype,

A new species of Alpheidae (Crustacea, Decapoda ) from the Caribbean Sea depth 0.5 m, from burrow of Upogebia omissa (host deposited under MNHN-Th 1460), 14.XII.2003, 1 ♂

(photographed, dissected), CL 5.2,TL 16.4 (MNHN-Na

13621). — Same locality and collectors as for holotype, depth 0.5-1 m, from burrow of Upogebia omissa (host deposited under MNHN-Th 1461, two parasitic bopyrids,

Anker A. et al.

1 ♂ and 1 ♀, detached from host and deposited under MNHN-Ep 1007), 13.XII.2004, 1 ♂, CL 5.8, TL 18.6, 1 ♀, CL 7.6, TL 23.8 (both specimens photographed, female with all pereiopods regenerating on left side) (MNHN-Na 13679). — Same locality and collectors as for holotype, depth 0.5 m, from burrow of Upogebia omissa (host deposited under USNM 1073867), 14.XII.2003, 1 ♀, CL 5.8,TL 16.5 ( USNM 1073866). — Same locality as for holotype, depth 0.5 m, from burrow, 5.II.2004, coll. C. Lira, 1 ♂, CL 5.2, TL 16.1 (photographed) ( IVIC 1128).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Venezuela: Estado Nueva Esparta, Isla Margarita, southern shore, Guamache.

ETYMOLOGY. — We are pleased to name this remarkable new species in honour of Dr Darryl L. Felder (University of Louisiana, Lafayette), a renowned carcinologist and world authority of infaunal decapods.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Colombia. Caribbean coast, Bahía Cispata, mouth of Río Sinú, Cienaga Soledad, among mangrove roots, with yabby pump, 8.I.1995, coll. D. L. Felder, R. Lemaitre and S. F. Nates, 1 immature ♀, CL 3.3, TL 9.4 (identified as Leptalpheus “nov. sp. C” [DLF]) (USNM 1022183).

DISTRIBUTION. — Presently known from two localities in the southern Caribbean Sea: Isla Margarita, Venezuela (type locality) and Bahía Cispata, Colombia.

DESCRIPTION

Body elongate, carapace and abdomen somewhat compressed laterally, glabrous ( Fig. 1C ), with very short, scarce setae. Carapace with inconspicuous suture proximal to base of antenna ( Fig. 1A, B ). Frontal margin rounded, without rostrum and orbital teeth; orbital hood with two small, triangular crests above each eye ( Fig. 1 A-C). Pterygostomial angle rounded, not protruding ( Fig. 1B ). Eyes completely covered by carapace, not visible in dorsal view, with feebly marked anteromesial process; cornea well developed. Ocellar beak not conspicuous.

Antennular peduncle relatively stout ( Fig. 1A ), second segment longer than dorsally visible portion of first segment; stylocerite not reaching distal margin of first segment, distally subacute ( Fig. 1A, E ); dorsomesial carina with slender spinules ( Fig. 1E ); ventromesial carina with strong tooth ( Fig. 1E ); lateral flagellum biramous, with shorter ramus well developed, situated at third-fourth segment

Figures

FIG. 1. — Leptalpheus felderi n. sp., ♂ paratype (MNHN-Na 13621): A, frontal region, dorsal view; B, same, lateral view; C, carapace, lateral view; D, posterior abdominal segments and tail fan, lateral view; E, antennule, lateral view; F, mandible, incisor process; G, second pleopod. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 2. — Leptalpheus felderi n. sp.,♂ paratype (MNHN-Na 13621),right major cheliped:A, general aspect,ventromesial view;B, chela, mesial view; C, same,ventral view;D, same,lateral view;E, fingers of chela,dorsal view;F, ischium,ventrolateral view;G, distal merus

FIG. 3. — Leptalpheus felderi n. sp., ♂ paratype (MNHN-Na 13621), right major cheliped (A, B) and left minor cheliped (C-E): A, general view, lateral view; B, fingers of chela opened, mesial view; C, general aspect, lateral view; D, same, ventral view; E, fingers of chela. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 4. — Leptalpheus felderi n. sp., ♂ paratype (MNHN-Na 13621): A, third maxilliped, lateral view; B, second pereiopod, lateral view; C, same, distal segment of carpus and chela; D, third pereiopod, lateral view; E, fourth pereiopod, lateral view; F, fifth pereiopod,

FIG. 5. — Leptalpheus felderi n. sp.: A, B, young ♀ from Colombia (USNM 1022183);A, right major cheliped, distal merus, carpus and chela, mesial view; B, same, fingers slightly opened; C, ♂ paratype from Venezuela (MNHN-Na 13679), telson and uropods, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 6. — Leptalpheus felderi n. sp.(A, B) and host Upogebia omissa Gomes Corrêa,1968 (C), habitus and colour patterns in life:A, ♂ paratype (IVIC 1128), dorsal view; B, ♀ paratype (MNHN-Na 13679), lateral view; C, U. omissa, lateral view.