First record of the family Callianopsidae (Decapoda: Axiidea) and a new species of Vulcanocalliax from the Hikurangi Margin off Aotearoa New Zealand, with a key to species of Callianopsidae
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction The Aotearoa New Zealand ghost shrimp of the infraorders Axiidea and Gebiidea have never been comprehensively reviewed, with recent work uncovering a diverse regional fauna representing eight of the 14 known families. Methods Using standard morphological and DNA sequencing tools, the family Callianopsidae is, for the first time, recorded off New Zealand, represented by a new species of Vulcanocalliax. Results The new species was found near hydrocarbon seeps on the Hikurangi Margin, on the eastern New Zealand continental slope, and is only the second species now known in this genus. The single congener, V. arutyunovi, is only known from a mud volcano in the Gulf of Cádiz, off the Iberian Peninsula. Vulcanocalliax sp. nov. was formerly reported as an unnamed host of a new endemic New Zealand rhizocephalan barnacle Parthenopea australis and is here formally described as Vulcanocalliax beervana sp. nov. Discussion The new species differs, e.g., in the shape of the anterior carapace margin (convexly rounded and without elevated postantennal shoulder present in V. arutyunovi), the ocular peduncle having a convex anterolateral margin (compared to a straight margin), and the uropodal exopod has a dorsomedian ridge, lacking the elevated anterior portion that is distinct in V. arutyunovi. This brings the number of described New Zealand ghost shrimp species to 18. A key to all known Callianopsidae is provided. ZOOBANK LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4EDE6CE1-B644-4FFB-94CA-C8725A7549DD.
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Authors: Kareen E. Schnabel, Rachael A. Peart
Institution: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,295
OpenAlex ID: W4402418948