On two snapping shrimps, Alpheus baccheti n. sp. and A. coetivensis Coutière from the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia (Crustacea, Decapoda)

Abstract

The present study deals with two species of the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 recently collected on a shallow reef flat of Makemo, central Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia. Alpheus baccheti n. sp., is described on the basis of a single complete male specimen (holotype). The new species appears to be most closely related to the species of the A. lobidens de Haan, 1849 and A. strenuus Dana, 1852 species complexes, but can be easily distinguished from all of them by the presence of a distoventral tooth on the merus of the third and fourth pereiopods. The presence of Alpheus coetivensis Coutière, 1908 in the Tuamotu Islands is confirmed on the basis of several specimens from Makemo; some taxonomic remarks are provided for this species. The diagnostic colour patterns are illustrated for both A. baccheti n. sp. and A. coetivensis.