Biodiversity, complete inventory, taxonomy and keys to the species of Mysidae (Crustacea, Mysida) from marine caves of the Caribbean with revision of three genera and description of three new species

Collections of Mysidae taken in marine caves during the PACOTILLES-2 cruise to the Lesser Antilles, together with additional sampling in the Caribbean and inspection of museum collections and literature data yielded five stygobiont, 13 troglophile (stygophile) and nine trogloxene species. Sequences for COI mtDNA were obtained for populations of six species and nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA for populations of two species. A COI-based distance tree is given for populations of three species of Mysidium . The tribe Mysidetini is here revised with inclusion of the genera Bermudamysis and Platyops based on segmental numbers and the non-prehensile structure of thoracic endopod 3. The description of Bermudamysis caribbaea sp. nov . from Guadeloupe is mainly based on segmental numbers of thoracic endopods and on telson structure. The male of Platyops sterreri is now first described from Guadeloupe, which represents the first record of this species outside Bermuda. Platyops dennisi is removed from Platyops and established as the type species of Chelitrapezura gen. nov ., the latter affiliated with the tribe Heteromysini (subfamily Heteromysinae). Heteromysis troglophila sp. nov . from marine caves in the Lesser Antilles differs from the nearest congeners by a broadly rounded rostrum in combination with different numbers of spines and laminae of the telson. The genus Palaumysis is revised including supplementary descriptions of P. simonae and P. bahamensis . The establishment of P. antillensis sp. nov . is mainly based on features of the antennula, antenna, and carapace. Diagnoses together with data on distribution and troglophilia are given for all here acknowledged 27 species from marine and anchialine caves of the Caribbean; keys to the genera and species are included.

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Journal
ZooKeys
Published
2026-06-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1283.169111
Primary Topic
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Type
article
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article

Biodiversity, complete inventory, taxonomy and keys to the species of Mysidae (Crustacea, Mysida) from marine caves of the Caribbean with revision of three genera and description of three new species

Pierre Chevaldonné, Karl J. Wittmann
ZooKeys
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
article

Biodiversity, complete inventory, taxonomy and keys to the species of Mysidae (Crustacea, Mysida) from marine caves of the Caribbean with revision of three genera and description of three new species

Pierre Chevaldonné, Karl J. Wittmann
article en

Abstract

Collections of Mysidae taken in marine caves during the PACOTILLES-2 cruise to the Lesser Antilles, together with additional sampling in the Caribbean and inspection of museum collections and literature data yielded five stygobiont, 13 troglophile (stygophile) and nine trogloxene species. Sequences for COI mtDNA were obtained for populations of six species and nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA for populations of two species. A COI-based distance tree is given for populations of three species of Mysidium . The tribe Mysidetini is here revised with inclusion of the genera Bermudamysis and Platyops based on segmental numbers and the non-prehensile structure of thoracic endopod 3. The description of Bermudamysis caribbaea sp. nov . from Guadeloupe is mainly based on segmental numbers of thoracic endopods and on telson structure. The male of Platyops sterreri is now first described from Guadeloupe, which represents the first record of this species outside Bermuda. Platyops dennisi is removed from Platyops and established as the type species of Chelitrapezura gen. nov ., the latter affiliated with the tribe Heteromysini (subfamily Heteromysinae). Heteromysis troglophila sp. nov . from marine caves in the Lesser Antilles differs from the nearest congeners by a broadly rounded rostrum in combination with different numbers of spines and laminae of the telson. The genus Palaumysis is revised including supplementary descriptions of P. simonae and P. bahamensis . The establishment of P. antillensis sp. nov . is mainly based on features of the antennula, antenna, and carapace. Diagnoses together with data on distribution and troglophilia are given for all here acknowledged 27 species from marine and anchialine caves of the Caribbean; keys to the genera and species are included.

ZooKeysVol. 1283
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse (FR), Aix-Marseille Université (FR), Station Marine d'Endoume (FR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Medical University of Vienna (AT)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
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