Description and Phylogenetic Position of a New Genus and Species of Deep-Water Alpheid Shrimp Associated with Glass Sponges off New Caledonia (Decapoda: Caridea)

In this study, we provide a phylogenetic study for the deep sea hexactinellid-associated alpheid shrimps, genera Bannereus Bruce, 1988, Batella Holthuis, 1955, and Vexillipar Chace, 1988, and describe a new genus in this clade. Batellopsis paula gen. et sp. nov.is described based on a single specimen collected at a depth of 477–503 m During the 2011 EXBODI expedition in the offshore waters of New Caledonia, organised by the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN). Moreover, the evolution of several morphological characters, including orbital teeth, bulge-fossa system on the fingers of the first pereiopod chela and groups of microserrulate setae on the second pereiopod chela, is discussed in light of phylogenetic results.

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