A New Species of the Stenopodidean Shrimp Genus Spongicola (Crustacea: Decapoda: Spongicolidae) from French Polynesia, South Pacific

Abstract

A new species of the spongicolid shrimp genus Spongicola, S. teres sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of a single male specimen collected from the Society Islands, French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean, at a depth of 650–800 m. It appears closest to S. depressus Saito and Komai, 2008 and S. levigatus Hayashi and Ogawa, 1987 among the seven known congeneric species in having a reduced armature of the carapace and third pereopod, but the more developed rostral ridge, extending onto the gastric region of the carapace, distinguishes the new species from the latter two species. The armature of the telson and the development of the grooming apparatus of the first pereopod are also useful in differentiating these three species. An emended identification key to the species of Spongicola is provided.