Synalpheus dardeaui ( Ríos & Duffy, 2007 )

Anker, Arthur, Pachelle, Paulo P. G., Grave, Sammy De & Hultgren, Kristin M., 2012, 3598, Zootaxa 3598 (1), pp. 1-96 : 34-37

Synalpheus dardeaui ( Ríos & Duffy, 2007)

(Figs 22, 23)

Zuzalpheus dardeaui Ríos & Duffy 2007: 18 , figs 3–6, pl. 2.

Synalpheus dardeaui — Hultgren et al. 2010: 229.

Material examined. Panama: 1 male, MNHN-IU-2010-4123, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, sponges in coral rocks, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, 20.10.2005 [fcn 05-061]; 4 males, 5 ov. females, 3 females, MNHN-IU-2010-4124, Bocas del Toro , Isla Bastimentos, Crawl Cay (Cayo Coral), in Lissodendoryx colombiensis , 1–3 m, coll. A. Anker, 30.10.2005 [fcn 05-083]; 1 male, RMNH D54880 , same collection data [fcn 05-087A]; 1 ov. female, RMNH D54885 , Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Punta Mono, in Spheciospongia vesparium , 3–4 m, coll. J.A. Vera Caripe, 15.11.2006 [fcn 06-585*]; 1 male, 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4125, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, in L. colombiensis , 1–3 m, coll. A. Anker, J.A. Baeza, 28.04.2007 [fcn 07-134B*]; 1 male, 1 ov. female, RMNH D54881 , same collection data [fcn 07-136B*]; 1 ov. female, UP , same collection data [fcn 07-148B]; 1 male, UP , same collection data [fcn 07-149B*]; 1 male, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-074 , same collection data [fcn 07- 151B*]; 1 male, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-075 , same collection data [fcn 07-152B*]; 1 male, MNHN-IU-2010-4126, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, in sponges, coll. A. Anker et al. (shrimp taxonomy class), 11.08.2008 [fcn 08-212*]; 2 males, MNHN-IU-2010-4127, Bocas del Toro , in various sponges (mostly L. colombiensis ), coll. A. Anker et al. (shrimp taxonomy class), 08.2008 [08-296, 08-297]; 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4128 , same collection data [fcn 08-295]; 3 males, 1 ov. female, RMNH D54802 , same collection data [fcn 08-303]; 12 males (some immature), 1 ov. female, RMNH D54879, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, in L. colombiensis , 1–2 m, coll. A. Anker et al. (shrimp taxonomy class), 08.08.2008 [fcn 08-233A]; 1 male, UP, Bocas del Toro, Cayo Solarte, Hospital Point , cryptic sponges in coral rubble, coll. C. Hurt, 10.09.2006 [fcn 06-468A]; 1 ov. female, UP, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, 1–3 m, in L. colombiensis , coll. A. Anker, J.A. Baeza, 28.04.2007 [fcn 07-139B*]; 1 ov. female, RMNH D54884, Bocas del Toro , Isla Bastimentos, Crawl Cay (Cayo Coral), in L. colombiensis , 1–3 m, coll. A. Anker, 30.10.2006 [fcn 06-470]; 1 ov. female (with hemiarthrine parasite), RMNH D54883, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, 1–3 m, in sponge ( L. colombiensis or another sponge), coll. A. Anker et al. (shrimp taxonomy class), 08.08.2008 [fcn 08-230B*] . USA: 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-125, Florida Keys, near Bahia Honda State Park , 0.5 m, in sponges, coll. A. Anker, A.L. Rhyne, 18.04.2004 [fcn 04-003B] .

Description. For detailed description and illustrations see Ríos & Duffy (2007).

Size range. Males, cl 3.8–8.7 mm cl; females, 5.5–11.5 mm cl.

Colour in life. Semitransparent pale brown to orange-brown, speckled with small reddish chromatophores, more concentrated in some areas of the carapace and tail fan; major chela darker reddish, more olive-brown distally; ovaries and freshly laid eggs orange-yellow (Figs 22, 23c, d); see also colour photograph in Ríos & Duffy (2007).

Type locality. Carrie Bow Cay , Belize .

Distribution. Western Atlantic: Caribbean Sea: Belize [Carrie Bow Cay], Panama [Bocas del Toro], Curaçao; Florida [Florida Keys]; possibly also in North Carolina ( Ríos & Duffy 2007; Hultgren et al. 2010; present study; see map in Fig. 51 ).

Ecology. Shallow reef and associated habitats, such as rubble-seagrass flats and mangrove roots with abundance of sponges; depth range 1–65 m (Hultgren et al. 2010; present study), usually much shallower (0.5–10 m); obligate symbiont of demosponges, typically Spheciospongia vesparium and Lissodendoryx colombiensis ( Ríos & Duffy 2007; Hultgren et al. 2010; present study), occasionally also in Xestospongia rosariensis (K. Hultgren, pers. obs.); records from “ Spongia sp. ” are possibly incorrect identification of the hosts; typically in heterosexual pairs.

Remarks. Some specimens, for instance a very large ovigerous female parasitised by a hemiarthrine isopod (RMNH D54883), have a vestigial blade in the antennal scaphocerite. However, S. dardeaui can still be distinguished from other species, including S. yano (which has no blade at all), by the much more slender, sometimes mesially directed orbital teeth, and the more strongly bidentate fingertips of the minor cheliped ( Ríos & Duffy 2007). The ovigerous female from the Florida Keys (OUMNH.ZC.2012-07-125) appears to be a typical specimen of S. dardeaui , perhaps corroborating a previous tentative record of this species from North Carolina ( Ríos & Duffy 2007).

Figures

FIGURE 51. Presently known geographic ranges of Synalpheus africanus Crosnier & Forest, 1965; S. cf. africanus (eastern and western Atlantic); S. agelas Pequegnat & Heard, 1979; S. anasimus Chace, 1972; S. antillensis Coutière, 1909; S. apioceros Coutière, 1909; S. bocas Anker & Tóth, 2008; S. bousfieldi Chace, 1972; S. brooksi Coutière, 1909; S. carpenteri Macdonald & Duffy, 2006; S. chacei Duffy, 1998; S. congoensis Crosnier & Forest, 1965; S. dardeaui (Ríos & Duffy, 2007); S. dominicensis Armstrong, 1949; S. elizabethae (Ríos & Duffy, 2007); S. filidigitus Armstrong, 1949; S. fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909; S. goodei