First record of deep-water boxer shrimp from India

Engystenopus palmipes

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca Latreille, 1802

Order: Decapoda Latreille, 1802

Family: Spongicolidae Schram, 1986

Engystenopus palmipes Alcock & Anderson, 1894

Collection: SE Arabian Sea, continental slope off Thiruvananthapuram – 8.24°N, 76.49°E, 610 m, 29.02.2020 (FORVSS 398, St. 01), Expo Model Trawl.

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/SS/STE/00001

Description: Small stenopodidean shrimp with cephalothorax slightly depressed dorsoventrally. Rostrum laterally compressed with dorsal and ventral teeth, laterally with few spinules. Carapace and dorsal pleon smooth, polished; only large supraorbital spines, few small pterygostomian spines on carapace. Telson lance-shaped, strong spine near middle of lateral border, posterior margin with 3 teeth; two dorsal longitudinal carinae with 4 or 5 spines. Pereopods 1–2 with weak carpo-propodal setiferous organ. Pereopod 3 largest, chelate, outer and inner edges of merus and carpus strongly spinate, carpus distally inflated; palm very large, broad, compressed, distally spinulate; dactylus thin, compressed, proximally serrate; cutting edges of chelae consisting of scalloped chitinous ridge. Pereopods 4–5 long, dactyli uniunguiculate. Uropodal endopod dorsal surface with 2 carinae.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: First distributional record from Indian EEZ.

Distribution: Indian Ocean, Philippines, Madagascar, Tanimbar Island, Indonesia, and NW and NE Australia. Depth range: 174–640 m.

Distribution map:

 

Identified by: Apreshgi K.P.

Publication: Apreshgi K.P., Padate V.P., Cubelio S.S., Saravanane N. (2021) The first record of the rare stenopodidean shrimp Engystenopus palmipes Alcock & Anderson, 1894 (Crustacea: Decapoda) from Southeastern Arabian Sea, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 50 (07): 588-590.

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