Revealing European cave shrimp diversity: a new species of Spelaeocaris (Decapoda, Atyidae) named through public participation

The family Atyidae, the world's largest family of freshwater shrimps, is represented in Europe almost exclusively by subterranean species. The Dinaric Karst of the northwestern Balkans is among the most species-rich regions for atyids, hosting two genera, <i>Troglocaris</i> and <i>Spelaeocaris</i>. Recent speleobiological surveys in the southern Dinaric Karst of Bosnia and Herzegovina revealed a new cave shrimp species, described here as <i>Spelaeocaris electa</i> Jugovic & Zakšek, <b>sp. nov</b>. based on specimens collected during several field campaigns during 2013 and 2021. The epithet "electa" was chosen by a public vote, with the aim of involving local communities in the species naming process and raising awareness of subterranean biodiversity. Phylogenetic analyses, including species of the three European subterranean atyid genera (<i>Spelaeocaris</i>, <i>Troglocaris</i> and <i>Xiphocaridinella</i>) revealed its close relationship with <i>S. hercegovinensis</i>. Morphologically, <i>S. electa</i> Jugovic & Zakšek, <b>sp. nov</b>. is characterized by a weakly bilobed distal end of the telson, which is slightly concave in the centre, by a long rostrum, and the interchange of long and short spines on the appendix masculina. The discovery of <i>S. electa</i> Jugovic & Zakšek, <b>sp. nov</b>. highlights the exceptional subterranean biodiversity and high endemism of the Dinaric Karst, and emphasizes the need for continued taxonomic research and strengthened conservation efforts in this area.