Morphological and molecular description of new species of squat lobster (Crustacea: Decapoda: Galatheidae) from the Solomon and Fiji Islands (South-West Pacific)

Type Article
Date 2009-07
Language English
Author(s) Cabezas Patricia1, Macpherson Enrique2, Machordom Annie1
Affiliation(s) 1 : CSIC, Museo Nacl Ciencias Nat, E-28006 Madrid, Spain.
2 : CSIC, Ctr Estudios Avanzados Blanes, Blanes 17300, Girona, Spain.
Source Zoological Journal Of The Linnean Society (0024-4082) (Wiley-blackwell Publishing, Inc), 2009-07 , Vol. 156 , N. 3 , P. 465-493
DOI 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00492.x
WOS© Times Cited 38
Keyword(s) 16S rRNA gene, COI gene, decapoda, molecular systematics, morphology
Abstract The family Galatheidae is among the most diverse families of anomuran decapod crustaceans, and the South-West Pacific is a biodiversity hot spot for these squat lobsters. Attempts to clarify the taxonomic and evolutionary relationships of the Galatheidae on the basis of morphological and molecular data have revealed the existence of several cryptic species, differentiated only by subtle morphological characters. Despite these efforts, however, relationships among genera are poorly understood, and the family is in need of a detailed systematic review. In this study, we assess material collected in different surveys conducted in the Solomon Islands, as well as comparative material from the Fiji Islands, by examining both the morphology of the specimens and two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, COI, and 16S rRNA). These two sources of data revealed the existence of eight new species of squat lobster, four of which were ascribed to the genus Munida, two to the genus Paramunida, one to the genus Plesionida, and the last species was ascribed to the genus Agononida. These eight species are described along with phylogenetic relationships at the genus level. Our findings support the taxonomic status of the new species, yet the phylogenetic relationships are not yet fully resolved. Further molecular analysis of a larger data set of species, and more conserved genes, will help clarify the systematics of this group.
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