A new genus and species of pandalid shrimp (Decapoda: Caridea) from the western Pacific

Abstract

A new genus and new species of pandalid shrimp, Calipandalus elachys, is described on the basis of the specimens from Taiwan, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia in the western Pacific Ocean. Calipandalus new genus resembles Bitias Fransen, 1990, in the lack of an exopod on the third maxilliped, the short rostrum, and the presence of arthrobranchs on the four anterior pereopods. It is distinguished from Bitias by the presence of tegumental scales, the moderately spaced, fixed dorsal teeth on the rostrum proper, the short antennular stylocerite, and the peculiar structures of the mandibular palp and the chela of the second pereopod. The new species also bears similarity to particular species of Plesionika Bate, 1888, although the absence of an exopod on the third maxilliped sets the new species apart from Plesionika.