New Record of Alvinocaridid Shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Hydrothermal Vent Fields on the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, including a New Species of the Genus Opaepele

Abstract

Three species of alvinocaridid shrimps are recorded from the recently dis- covered hydrothermal vent fields on the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Opae- pele susannae sp. nov., Rimicaris exoculata Williams and Rona, 1986, and Mirocaris fortunata (Martin and Christiansen, 1995). All three species are considered to be vent-endemic. The new species is provisionally assigned to the heretofore monotypic genus Opaepele Williams and Dobbs, 1995, based on overall similarity. Opaepele susannae sp. nov. is primarily distinguished from O. loihi Williams and Dobbs, 1995, the type species of the genus, by the dorsally smooth rostrum with a truncate or rounded apex. It is the first rep- resentative of Opaepele known outside the Pacific Ocean.