Integrative methods resolve taxonomy and relationships of snapping shrimps in the genus

Abstract

Extensive sampling around Martinique during the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle ‘Madibenthos’ expedition in 2016 resulted in a collection of hundreds of alpheid shrimps, of which 21 distinct species of Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 are studied herein. Combining results of a morphological analysis, a phylogenetic tree (combined 16S and COI) and species delimitation analyses (ABGD and PTP) indicates three species as new to science. These species are S. chaki sp. nov., S. corbariae sp. nov., and S. macdonaldi sp. nov. The first two new species belong to the S. rathbunae Coutière, 1909 species group, whereas the third new species broadly groups with the S. gambarelloides group. Additionally, 13 new country records of Synalpheus are reported for Martinique.