Synalpheus microneptunus
| Synalpheus microneptunus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Family: | Alpheidae |
| Genus: | Synalpheus |
| Species: | S. microneptunus |
| Binomial name | |
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Synalpheus microneptunus Hultgren, MacDonald, & Duffy, 2011 |
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Synalpheus microneptunus is a species of small snapping shrimp native to the waters off the island of Barbados. It is one of at least seven known species of eusocial shrimp. They are cryptofauna, living exclusively within the network of tunnels in the sponges Neopetrosia proxima and Neopetrosia subtriangularis. They form small colonies of six to fifteen individuals, usually with only a single breeding female.
Synalpheus microneptunus belongs to the genus Synalpheus of the snapping shrimp family, Alpheidae. It was first described by Kristin M. Hultgren, Kenneth S. MacDonald III, and J. Emmett Duffy in 2011, from specimens collected from the Cement Factory Reef off the northwest coast of the island of Barbados.
It is one of five closely related and morpholologically very similar species in the Synalpheus paraneptunus species complex. Synalpheus microneptunus can readily be distinguished from other members of the complex by the presence of four carpal segments on each of the second pair of walking legs (pereopods) on both adult and juveniles. This is in contrast to the five segments present in other species of the S. paraneptunus complex.
Their specific name is derived from their affinity to the Synalpheus paraneptunus complex and the fact that they are the smallest member of the group in terms of body size.
Synalpheus microneptunus are small shrimp, with a carapace length of only 2.2 to 2.9 mm (0.087 to 0.114 in). The carapace is smooth with sparsely distributed bristles (setae). The posterior end of which has a distinct cardiac notch. The anterior spine of the carapace (rostrum) is flanked by two slightly shorter and stouter blunt spines (the ocular hoods) directly covering the eyestalks.
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