Salmoneus shojaei, a new species of mangrove-dwelling alpheid shrimp (Decapoda: Caridea) from Iran.

During a survey of the mangrove infauna on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman several specimens of a new alpheid shrimp, Salmoneus shojaei sp. nov., were collected around pneumatophores of mangrove trees, mostly in association with the larger burrowing snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798. The new species appears to be a member of the S. gracilipes species group and is morphologically closest to S. colinorum De Grave, 2004 and S. alpheophilus Anker Marin, 2006. However, a unique combination of morphological characters, such as the carapace without rostral carina, the unarmed ischium of the major cheliped, the armed ischia of the minor cheliped and second pereiopod, the very slender dactyli of the fourth and third pereiopods, and the posterior margin of the telson with a deep U-shaped notch, distinguishes the new species from all other members of the S. gracilipes group. In addition, S. shojaei sp. nov. presents a diagnostic, albeit very faint, banding of the pleon, which separates it from most other species of the S. gracilipes group with known colour patterns. A DNA barcode (a partial fragment of the mitochondrial gene, CO1), as well as partial fragments of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and the nuclear H3 genes, are provided to genetically characterise the new taxon.

The first complete specimen of the deep-water shrimp Batella praecipua De Grave, 2004 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae).

The deep-water alpheid shrimp Batella praecipua De Grave, 2004 was originally described based on two incomplete specimens, both with their first chelipeds missing, collected at 400440 m off New Caledonia. During the recent KANADEEP 1 expedition in the Coral Sea in 2017, the first complete specimen of B. praecipua was collected at a depth of 370380 m. The morphology of this specimen is presented in detail, with emphasis on the highly diagnostic chelipeds, which are described and illustrated for the first time. A slight intraspecific variation of B. praecipua is reported and a DNA barcode (CO1) is provided for this species. The main differences between the three presently known species of Batella Holthuis, 1955 are discussed.

Athanas philippei n. sp., a new alpheid shrimp associated with stomatopods in New Caledonia (Decapoda: Caridea).

A new stomatopod-associated species of the alpheid shrimp genus Athanas Leach, 1814 is described based on several specimens collected in shallow waters of northern New Caledonia. Athanas philippei n. sp. differs from all of its congeners by a unique combination of morphological characteristics, as well as a diagnostic colour pattern. All specimens of A. philippei n. sp. were collected from burrows, including one with its host, a large tiger mantis shrimp, Lysiosquillina maculata (Fabricius, 1793) (Lysiosquillidae). Thus, the new species represents the fifth species of Athanas known or presumed to be associated with the spacious burrows of stomatopods.

Redescription and new record of the spongobiotic shrimp Periclimenaeus rastrifer Bruce, 1980 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Taiwan.

The palaemonid shrimp Periclimenaeus rastrifer is here reported from Taiwan based on three specimens. It bears a feeble but distinct anterodorsal lobe on the first pleonite (not reported before). The mouthparts, not previously described, are also remarkable by a multidentate apex of the mandibular incisor, asymmetric distal endite of the second maxilla, and expanded dorsal lobe on the second maxilliped merus. The species is thus redescribed here. One of the examined specimens possesses an unusual rostrum, and malformed telson and uropodal spinulation; the latter specimen is described and illustrated in detail, including the mouthparts. Previously, the only species in the genus published in faunistic repors from Taiwan were P. wolffi Bruce 1993 and P. gorgonidarum (Balss, 1913) recorded from the Taiwan Strait, and the Green Island, respectively; P. rastrifer is reported here as the first of the genus from Taiwan mainland.