Records of and Observations on Tanaidaceans (Peracarida) from Shallow Waters of the Caribbean Coast of Mexico

Abstract

[As in other tropical areas, the tanaidacean fauna of the western Caribbean Sea remains poorly known. Our study is based on the examination of several families of Tanaidacea from samples collected at 30 sites in a variety of shallow-water marine habitats along the Mexican Caribbean coast, located on the westernmost section of the Caribbean Basin. Up to 13 species belonging to seven families and 11 genera were identified. Of these species, four have been previously recorded from the Caribbean coast of Mexico and nine constitute new regional records. Nine species have been known to occur in the Caribbean Basin and four species, Hexapleomera robusta (Moore), Leptochelia dubia (Kroyer), Sinelobus stanfordi (Richardson), and Zeuxo kurilensis (Kussakin & Tzareva) are widely distributed forms, occurring in two or more oceans. Taxonomic and comparative comments are provided for some species recorded in the surveyed area. The male of Pseudotanais (Akanthinotanais) mortenseni Sieg is recognized and documented for the first time, based on the only specimen found., As in other tropical areas, the tanaidacean fauna of the western Caribbean Sea remains poorly known. Our study is based on the examination of several families of Tanaidacea from samples collected at 30 sites in a variety of shallow-water marine habitats along the Mexican Caribbean coast, located on the westernmost section of the Caribbean Basin. Up to 13 species belonging to seven families and 11 genera were identified. Of these species, four have been previously recorded from the Caribbean coast of Mexico and nine constitute new regional records. Nine species have been known to occur in the Caribbean Basin and four species, Hexapleomera robusta (Moore), Leptochelia dubia (Kroyer), Sinelobus stanfordi (Richardson), and Zeuxo kurilensis (Kussakin & Tzareva) are widely distributed forms, occurring in two or more oceans. Taxonomic and comparative comments are provided for some species recorded in the surveyed area. The male of Pseudotanais (Akanthinotanais) mortenseni Sieg is recognized and documented for the first time, based on the only specimen found.]