Salmoneus malagensis Anker & Lazarus, 2015

Anker, Arthur, 2019, The eastern Pacific species of Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, with description of a remarkable new species from Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Alpheidae), Zootaxa 4651 (1), pp. 125-140 : 134

Salmoneus malagensis Anker & Lazarus, 2015

Fig. 6

Salmoneus malagensis Anker & Lazarus 2015: 526 , figs. 4–6, 7A, B.

Material examined. 1 non-ovigerous specimen (cl 3.2 mm, missing major cheliped), FLMNH UF 51906, Panama, Azuero Peninsula, Búcaro, Puerto Vapor, 7°21’41.1”N 80°21’56.5”W, estuarine mudflat, suction pump, leg. A. Anker et al., 16.02.2019 [fcn PAN-031]; 1 non-ovigerous specimen (cl 3.4 mm, missing major cheliped), FLMNH UF 51907 , Panama, Azuero Peninsula, Puerto Cañas , 7°25’53.8”N 80°16’01.6”W, estuarine mudflat near mangroves, in burrow, suction pump, leg. A. Anker et al., 15.02.2019 [fcn PAN-007]; 1 non-ovigerous specimen (cl 4.5 mm) USNM 244262 , Colombia, Nariño, Tumaco, “ Finca de Calderón ”, leg. H. Von Prahl, 15.08.1984 ; 2 ovigerous specimens (cl 3.8 mm, 4.0 mm), USNM 244251 , Bahía Málaga , Rampa de los Suecos, leg. J.C. Escobar, 27.12.1985 .

Description. See Anker & Lazarus (2015).

Colouration. Greyish-semitransparent with transverse bands of red-brown to blue-purple colour; antennular and antennal flagella pale reddish ( Anker & Lazarus 2015; see also Fig. 6 ).

Type locality. Bahía Málaga , Pacific coast of Colombia .

Distribution. Eastern Pacific: Colombia (Bahía Málaga, Tumaco) and Panama (Azuero Peninsula) ( Anker & Lazarus 2015; present study).

Ecology. Intertidal and very shallow subtidal; in burrows of large burrowing snapping shrimps, Alpheus colombiensis Wicksten, 1988 (see below).

Remarks. Salmoneus malagensis was previously known only from the type locality, Bahía Málaga, Colombia ( Anker & Lazarus, 2015) and is herewith recorded for the first time from Panama. Unfortunately, both Panamanian specimens are missing their major chelipeds, but the species can be easily recognised in the field by its dark redbrown, purple-brown or blue-purple bands ( Anker & Lazarus 2015; see also Fig. 6 ). Salmoneus malagensis appears to be an obligate associate of burrows excavated in soft sediment (mud or fine sand, often close to mangroves) by Alpheus colombiensis , which was quite abundant at both collection sites.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Salmoneus malagensis Anker & Lazarus, 2015: non-ovigerous specimen (cl 3.4 mm, missing major cheliped) from Puerto Cañas, Azuero Peninsula, Panama, FLMNH UF 51907; a—living individual (covered with some mud particles), dorsal view; b—same, lateral view.