Three new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from the tropical western Pacific

Abstract

Three new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 are described from shallow waters of Guam (Mariana Islands), Moorea (Society Islands, French Polynesia), and Panglao (Bohol, the Philippines). The description of Salmoneus paulayi n. sp. is based on three specimens collected on reef flats in the vicinity of Guam’s Apra Harbor, Talofofo, and Mangilao. Salmoneus komaii n. sp. is described on the basis of a single specimen collected at Barracuda Rock, one of Guam’s popular diving sites. Finally, Salmoneus poupini n. sp. is described based on eight type specimens from several sites in the Moorea lagoon and one additional specimen from Panglao. The three new species appear to be closely related to each other, sharing several features on the minor and major chelipeds, the most obvious being the presence of widely spaced teeth on the finger cutting edges of the major chela. In addition, S. paulayi n. sp. is characterised by the presence of rounded, finely striated convexities intercalated between the teeth on the fingers of the major chela; these convexities are present, but much less developed in S. komaii n. sp. and S. poupini n. sp. The closest relative of these three new species appears to be S. sketi Fransen, 1991 from the eastern Atlantic, the only other species of the genus with widely spaced teeth (instead of serrations) on the cutting edges of the major chela.