Publication Date:
2015-05-08
Description:
Three new sympatric species of remipede crustaceans, Speleonectes tanumekes, Speleonectes parabenjamini and Speleonectes minnsi, are described from an anchihaline cave on Great Exuma Island in the central Bahamas. Speleonectes tanumekes is a comparatively long and slender species distinguished by the largest number of trunk segments found in remipedes to date. Speleonectes parabenjamini is morphologically closely related to Speleonectes benjamini, but differs from the latter species by several distinct autapomorphies. Speleonectes minnsi is characterized by comparatively robust maxillules. The occurrence of three sympatric species is a remarkable record for the Remipedia adding to a total of 10 sympatric taxa. We discuss the high diversity of remipedes in the larger West Indian region with regard to their evolutionary history and origin.
Keywords:
Crustacea
;
Remipedia
;
Speleonectidae
;
Speleonectes
;
new species
;
Bahamas
;
anchihaline caves
;
sympatry
;
biogeography
;
evolutionary history
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
Article / Letter to the editor
Format:
application/pdf
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