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(A) Caridina stellata Guo, Chen, Chen, Cai & Guo. 2022 Caridina cavernicola Liang & Zhou, 1993 |
Abstract
Caridina stellata sp. nov. is described from streams in Guangxi, south-western China. The new species clearly belongs to “Caridina serrata group” of the genus and shows a morphological similarity with C. cantonensis Yu, 1938, C. serrata Stimpson, 1860 and C. pacbo Do et al. 2020. Caridina stellata is distinguished from congeners, based on differences in its male first pleopod and appendix masculina morphology, along with COI and 16S rRNA molecular evidence. The first pleopod endopod in male is rectangle, about 0.70 × length of exopod, about 3.7–3.9 × as long as proximally wide, inner margin concave, bearing nearly equal spine setae, outer margin bearing nearly equal long and dense spine setae; appendix interna well developed, arising from distal 1/5 of endopod, reaching to end of endopod, with cincinuli distally. The new species displays a unique and brightly coloured pattern and, therefore, can be easily recognised in the field. Liang & Zhou, 1993 described C. cavernicola from the Lenggu Cave, Du’an County, Guangxi. However, the description was based exclusively on two females. We have collected specimens of both sexes near the type locality and describe herein the previously unknown male and present morphological data on females. Data on the habitat, ecology and levels of threat of the two species are provided and suggest that they should be categorised as vulnerable (VU) under the current IUCN Criteria.
Keywords: COI and 16S rRNA, ecology, habitat, levels of threat, new species, south-western China
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| Habitats and live colouration of Caridina stellata sp. nov. and C. cavernicola A C. stellata sp. nov. B–D C. cavernicola; E–H surrounding environment of C. stellata sp. nov. (E) and C. cavernicola (F–H). |
Family Atyidae De Haan, 1849
Genus Caridina H. Milne Edwards, 1837
Caridina stellata sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Rostrum long, straight, slightly sloping downwards, reaching to end of 2nd segment of antennular peduncle, occasionally reaching to end of 3rd segment of antennular peduncle; rostral formula 6-8+7-16/6-13. 1st pereiopod carpus 0.43–0.71 × as long as chela, 1.2–1.4 × as long as high; chela 1.8–2.4 × as long as broad; fingers 0.80–1.1 × as long as palm. 2nd pereiopodcarpus 1.1–1.3 × as long as chela, 4.0–4.8 × as long as high; chela 2.1–2.4 × as long as broad; fingers 1.1–1.4 × as long as palm. 3rd pereiopod propodus 4.0–5.5 × as long as dactylus, with two rows thin spines on the posterior margin, ischium with one spine on the posterior margin. 5th pereiopod propodus 4.2–5.3 × as long as dactylus, with two rows of thin spines on the posterior and lateral margins, dactylus terminating in one claw, with 35–40 spinules on flexor margin. Endopod of male 1st pleopod extending to 0.68 × exopod length, wider proximally, rectangle, about 3.7–3.9 × as long as wide, appendix interna well developed, arising from distal 1/6 of endopod, reaching end of endopod. Appendix masculina of male 2nd pleopod cylindrical, reaching to 0.58 length of endopod, appendix interna reaching to 0.50 length of appendix masculina. Uropodal diaeresis with 17–19 movable spinules. Eggs 0.84–0.89 × 1.27–1.39 mm in diameter.
Etymology: Caridina stellata is named after the Latin word stellatus, for dots, alluding to the pigmented pattern of the body.
Guo-Cai Guo, Qing-Hua Chen, Wen-Jian Chen, Chao-Huang Cai and Zhao-Liang Guo. 2022. Caridina stellata, A New Species of Atyid Shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) with the Male Description of Caridina cavernicola Liang & Zhou, 1993 from Guangxi, China. ZooKeys. 1104: 177-201. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.81836
