Godzillius fuchsi, a new species of Remipedia (Godzilliidae) from Abaco Island, Bahamas

Abstract

We describe a new species of Godzillius, a remipede belonging to Godzilliidae, discovered from Dan's Cave and Ralph's Sink, two inland anchialine blue holes on Abaco Island, Bahamas. Godzillius fuchsi n. sp. is the second species assigned to this genus. Collected adult specimens have a relatively robust body, with lengths measuring 34 mm and up to 28 trunk segments. The new species is distinguished from G. robustus in particular by the varying construction of the terminal claw complex on the cephalic limbs; having seven large teeth on the maxillae; and six large teeth separated by seven smaller teeth on the maxillipeds. The status of G. fuchsi as a distinct species was validated using pairwise distance calculations of COI sequences and that of previously published Bayesian analyses from selected remipede taxa, including G. robustus. Dan's Cave and Ralph's Sink are in very close proximity and likely are hydrologically connected. Godzillius fuchsi is the fifth remipede to be recorded from Dan's Cave. © The Crustacean Society, 2013. Published by Brill NV, Leiden.