Synalpheus agelas Pequegnat & Heard, 1979

Synalpheus agelas Pequegnat & Heard 1979: 110, figs. 1–4; Dardeau 1984: 12, figs. 3–6; Coelho Filho 2006: 8; Anker et al. 2012: 11, figs. 5, 6.

Zuzalpheus agelas — Ríos & Duffy 2007: 7, pl. 1.

[for more complete synonymy prior to 2012 see Ríos & Duffy (2007) and Anker et al. (2012)]

Material examined. Brazil: 1 male, MZUSP 34125, Trindade Island, Ilha da Racha, 20°30’26.5”S – 29°20’48.0”W, depth: 23 m, coll. J.B. Mendonça, 03.vii.2013; 1 juvenile, MZUSP 30063, Trindade Island, Enseada da Cachoeira, Praia do M, 20°30’53.8”S – 29°20’19.2”W, depth: 15 m, coll. J.B. Mendonça, 08.vii.2013. Size of male: cl 4.5 mm (MZUSP 34125).

Description. See Pequegnat & Heard (1979) for original description and illustrations, Dardeau (1984) and Anker et al. (2012) for additional illustrations, Ríos & Duffy (2007) and Anker et al. (2012) for colour photographs.

Distribution. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico; Caribbean Sea; Brazil: Pará to Espírito Santo, Atol das Rocas, North Chain Seamounts, Trindade Island (Coelho Filho 2006; Ríos & Duffy 2007; Anker et al. 2012 and references therein; present study).

Ecology. Coral reefs and associated habitats rich in coral rubble and sponges; always associated with sponges of the genus Agelas; known depth range 5– 56 m.

Remarks. Synalpheus agelas was previously known in the southwestern Atlantic only from North Chain Seamounts and Atol das Rocas (Anker et al. 2012). The present record from Trindade Island considerably extends its distribution range southwards and eastwards, by almost 2000 km.