First Record of the Hippolytid Shrimp Genus Lebbeus White, 1847 (Decapoda: Caridea) From Taiwan, With the Description of Three New Species

Abstract

The hippolytid shrimp genus Lebbeus White, 1847 was previously unknown from Taiwan. However, recent deep-sea surveys off the island have collected numerous specimens comprising four species, three of which are new to science: L. tosaensis Hanamura and Abe, 2003, L. brevirostris n. sp., L. formosus n. sp., and L. unguiculatus n. sp. Lebbeus brevirostris belongs to the group bearing epipods only on the first two pereiopods and is unique in having a short spiniform rostrum. Lebbeus formosus and L. unguiculatus bear epipods on the first three pereiopods. The latter is characteristic in having the dactyli of the posterior pereiopods terminating in a single elongate unguis.Lebbeus formosus is distinct in having a combination of rostral, antennular, telson, and pereiopodal characters