Integrative taxonomy uncovers a new stygobiotic Caridina species (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) from Guizhou Province, China.

Shuo Feng,Qing-Hua Chen,Zhao-Liang Guo

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1028.63822

Shuo Feng, Qing-Hua Chen + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1028.63822

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Abstract

Collecting much-needed information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of cave-dwelling shrimp is vital for addressing the urgent challenges in conservation biodiversity in fragile cave ecosystems. Caridina incolorsp. nov., a new atyid shrimp from an underground stream of Yaoshui Cave, Daqikong scenic area, Libo County, Guizhou Province, southwestern China is described based on morphology and DNA analysis (mitochondrial COI). Caridina incolorsp. nov. differs from epigean congeners by its smaller eyes which range from reduced to completely blind; colorless body and appendages; long stylocerite and sixth abdominal segment; and relatively large eggs. In comparison to other cave species, Caridina incolorsp. nov. presents a long rostrum and stylocerite; slender sixth abdominal segment; and unique shape of the appendix masculina. Data on the habitat, ecology, and levels of threat are provided and suggest that it should be categorized as Critically Endangered (CR) under the current IUCN criteria.

Highlights

China is rich in subterranean environments, with more than 500,000 documented caves, most of which are located in the southwest karst region, such as Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan Province (Chen 2006; Ran and Yang 2015). This underground setting has a unique ecological habitat characterized by permanent darkness, relatively constant air and water temperature, and scarcity of food supply (Rétaux and Casane 2013; Culver and Pipan 2019; Mammola et al 2019). They may have served as faunal refuges and are known to harbor an impressive array of shrimp species (Holthuis 1974, 1977; Hobbs et al 1977; Hart and Manning 1981; Liang and Yan 1981; Mejía-Ortíz and Hartnoll 2006; Li 2007; Cai and Ng 2009, 2018; Pan et al 2010; Zhu et al 2020)
By consuming organic matter such as leaves and twigs that get flushed into caves, they are the primary decomposers and make nutrients available to other organisms in the ecosystem, such as fish and crabs (Botosaneanu 1985)
The research concerning the cave-dwelling atyids in Guizhou started with a study by Cai and Li (1997), who described Caridina demenica Cai & Li, 1997 with pigmented reduced eyes from Libo County

Summary

Introduction

China is rich in subterranean environments, with more than 500,000 documented caves, most of which are located in the southwest karst region, such as Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan Province (Chen 2006; Ran and Yang 2015) This underground setting has a unique ecological habitat characterized by permanent darkness, relatively constant air and water temperature, and scarcity of food supply (Rétaux and Casane 2013; Culver and Pipan 2019; Mammola et al 2019). The research concerning the cave-dwelling atyids in Guizhou started with a study by Cai and Li (1997), who described Caridina demenica Cai & Li, 1997 with pigmented reduced eyes from Libo County. During our biospeleological surveys in Guizhou Province, stygobiont atyid shrimps belonging to the genus Caridina were collected from Yaoshui Cave, Daqikong scenic area, Libo County. The impact of anthropogenic activities on the new species are noted and suggests it is in need of urgent conservation intervention

Materials and methods

Findings

16 Neocaridina heteropoda