A new species of vent associated Munidopsis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from the Western Pacific, with notes on its genetic identification

Abstract

Munidopsis myojinensis n. sp., herein described and illustrated from Myojin Knoll and Northwest Eifuku Seamount in the Western Pacific, is the tenth species of Munidopsis known to be associated with active hydrothermal vents. It resembles M. starmer Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1992 in general ornamentation and spination of the body but differs in the erectness of the eyespine and form of the telson plates. Information on genetic identification using mitochondrial sequences (COI) is provided. Distributions of the vent associated Munidopsis in the Western Pacific and the habitat of the new species are briefly described. Copyright © 2007 Magnolia Press.