A new mud-dwelling species of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 (Decapoda: Alpheidae) from anoxic mangrove swamps of South Vietnam

The article describes a new species of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 (Decapoda: Caridea: Alpheidae), referring to the "Alpheus malabaricus" species complex, which is characterized by unusually long and thin fingers of minor cheliped (pereiopod I).Alpheus cangiopalus sp.n. was found to live exclusively in highly specific shallow water muddy lagoons located in deep anoxic mangrove swamps of the Cn Gi Mangrove Biosphere Reserve in South Vietnam.Detailed morphological comparison with Alpheus malabaricus (Fabricius, 1775) and other taxa earlier synonymized with the former species are provided.The trophic position of the new species was evaluated based on analysis of 15 N/ 13 C stable isotopes, and a discussion on other ecological features of the species is also represented in the article.