Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909

Anker, Arthur, Pachelle, Paulo P. G., Grave, Sammy De & Hultgren, Kristin M., 2012, 3598, Zootaxa 3598 (1), pp. 1-96 : 41-44

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909

( Figs 26–28 )

Synalpheus fritzmülleri Coutière 1909: 35 , fig. 18; Zimmer 1913: 382.

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri — Verrill 1922: 97; Schmitt 1924b: 66; Schmitt 1930: 343; Schmitt 1935: 148; Schmitt 1936: 369; Stephensen 1950: 97, fig. 33; Williams 1965: 69, fig. 56; Chace 1966: 629; Goldberg 1971: 318, fig. 1; Chace 1972: 92; Coelho & Ramos 1972: 150; Ray 1974: 127, figs 105-110; Abele 1976: 273; Camp et al. 1977: 26; Gore et al. 1978: 225; Christoffersen 1979: 341; Carvacho 1979: 462; Holthuis et al. 1980: 30; Rodríguez 1980: 153; Felder 1982: 535; Williams 1984: 102, fig. 70a; Abele & Kim 1986: 203, 226–227, figs a–c; Manning & Chace 1990: 22; Duffy 1992: 131; Martínez- Iglesias et al. 1996: 35; Coelho-Santos & Coelho 1998: 76, fig. 17; Christoffersen 1998: 362; Frick et al. 2003: 9; McClure 2005: 175, fig. 38; Coelho et al. 2006: 52; Almeida et al. 2012: 18 .

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri fritzmuelleri — Chace 1956: 147.

Synalpheus fritzmülleri elongatus Coutière 1909: 37 , fig. 19; Schmitt 1924a: 79; Pearse & Williams 1951: 143; Coelho & Ramos 1972: 150; Ray 1974: 131, figs 111–113; Williams 1984: 103, fig. 70b.

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri var. caribaea Verrill 1922: 98 , fig. 8, pl. 39, fig. 3a–c.

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri caribaea — Williams 1984: 103.

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri var. carolinensis Verrill 1922: 99 , pl. 22, fig. 6, pl. 39, fig. 1–1d.

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri carolinensis — Williams 1984: 103.

Material examined. Panama: 1 male, 1 ov. female, MNHN-IU-2010-4131 , Isla Grande, coral rocks, 0.5–1.5 m, coll. A. Anker, 21.04.2006 [fcn 06-393*]; 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4132 , Isla Grande, between village and Playa de la Punta, coral rocks, 1–1.5 m, coll. A. Anker, 04.09.2006 [fcn 06-441]; 1 ov. female, MNHN-IU-2010-4133 , Isla Grande, Playa de la Punta, 1–3 m, coral rocks, coll. A. Anker, J.A. Vera Caripe, J. Luque, 15.09.2007 [fcn 07- 258*]; 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4134 , Isla Grande, Playa de la Punta, coral rocks, 1–2 m, coll. A. Anker, C. Hurt, 06.10.2005 [fcn 05-045A]; 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4135, same collection data [fcn 05-046A]; 1 male, RMNH D54843 , same collection data [fcn 05-047]; 3 males, 2 ov. females, OUMNH. ZC . 2012-07-093, same collection data [fcn 05-048]; 2 males, 1 ov. female, UP , same collection data [fcn 05-049]; 1 ov. female, UP , same collection data [fcn 05-050A]; 1 male, OUMNH. ZC . 2013-07-094, same collection data [fcn 05-051]; 1 ov. female, RMNH D54840 , La Guaira, coral rocks, 1–2 m, coll. A. Anker, J.A. Baeza, 04.08.2007 [fcn 07-216*]; 2 males, OUMNH. ZC . 2012-07-101, same collection data [fcn 07-221*]; 2 ov. females, UP , Portobelo, coral rocks, 1–2 m, coll. A. Anker, J.A. Baeza, 04.08.2007 [fcn 07-228]; 1 female, 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC . 2012-07-102, same collection data [fcn 07-233*]; 1 ov. female, UP , Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Puss Head, coral rubble, less than 1 m, coll. A. Anker et al., 10.08.2008 [fcn 08-290]; 2 males, 2 females, UP , Bocas del Toro , coll. A. Anker et al. (shrimp taxonomy class), 08.2008 [fcn 11-080]; 1 male, 1 ov. female, RMNH D54841 , Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Puss Head, coral rubble, 0.5 m, coll. A. Anker et al. (shrimp taxonomy class), 10.08.2008 [fcn 08-291*, 08-292*]; 1 ov. female, UP , Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, between Big Creek and Playa Bluff, coral rubble, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, 18.10.2005 [fcn 05-039A]; 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4136, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, near Playa Wizard, coral rocks, 0.5–1.5 m, coll. A. Anker, 21.10.2005 [fcn 05-045B]; 1 male, OUMNH. ZC . 2012-07-096, Bocas del Toro , Isla Colón, Boca del Drago , coral rocks, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, 20.10.2005 [fcn 05-059]; 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC .2012-07-095, Isla Grande, Playa de la Punta, coral rocks, 1–2 m, coll. A. Anker, C. Hurt, 06.10.2005 [fcn 05-056] . Honduras: 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC . 2012-07-137, Utila, 1605.458’N 08654.533’W, rubble, coll. A.Anker, S. De Grave, 03.07.2007 [fcn H095]; 1 male, OUMNH. ZC .2012-07-136, Utila, 1605.458’N

08654.533’W, rubble, coll. A.Anker, S. De Grave, 03.07.2007 [fcn H092]; 1 female, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-135, Utila, 1605.458’N 08654.533’W, rubble, coll. A. Anker, S. De Grave, 03.07.2007 [fcn H097]. Mexico: 1 male, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-121, Gulf of Mexico, Arrecife Alacranes off Yucatan Peninsula , coral rubble, coll. J .

Duarte-Gutiérrez, 08.2009 [fcn JD-038]. Aruba: 2 ov. females, 1 male, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-103/105, Baby Beach , coral rocks, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, 06.12.2003 [fcn 03-002, 03-003, 03-004]. Venezuela: 1 male, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-106, Morrocoy , coral rocks, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, 09.12.2003 [fcn 03-010, major cheliped missing]. Dominican Republic: 1 male, 2 ov. females, MNHN-IU-2010-4139, Bayahibe , coral rocks, 1–2 m, coll. A. Anker, 02- 03.01.2005 [fcn 05-034]; 1 ov. female, RMNH D54838 , same collection data [fcn 05-043*]; 3 males, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-113 , same collection data [fcn 05-038]. St. Martin: 1 male, FLMNH UF 32379 , Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, sta. 50, Plage du Galion , under seagrass mats, less than 2 m, coll. A. Anker, J.F. Maréchal, 22.04.2012 [fcn BSTM-1397*]; 1 female, FLMNH UF 32348 , Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, sta. 47, Grande Caye , 0–3 m, coll. J.F. Maréchal et al., 20.04.2012 [fcn BSTM-1310*]; 1 ov. female, FLMNH UF m, coll. K. Hultgren, 21.10.2012 [fcn BR08-6605 ]. USA: 1 male, RMNH D54839, Florida Keys, near Marathon , ocean side, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, A.L. Rhyne, 19.04.2004 [fcn 04-005]; 1 female, MNHN-IU-2010-4137, Florida Keys, Bahia Honda , ocean side, 0.5–1 m, coll. A. Anker, A.L. Rhyne, 18.04.2004 [fcn 04-009]; 1 male, 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-100, Fort Pierce , lagoon entrance, dock piles, coll. J.A. Baeza, coll. 10– 14.06.2007 [fcn 07-239]; 1 male, 1 ov. female, RMNH D54837, Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park , ocean side, 1–1.5 m, under rocks, coll. A. Anker, A. Rhyne, C. Hurt, 25.09.2007 [fcn 07-293*]; 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2012- 07-098, Florida, Fort Pierce , 5–10 m, coll. J.A. Baeza, 2009 [fcn 11-079]; 2 males, MNHN-IU-2010-4138 , same collection data [fcn 11-073, 11-074]; 1 male, MZUSP 26394 , Florida, Key Biscane, from orange sponge, ~ 0.5 m, coll. A. Anker, 07.09.2008 [fcn 08-275*]. Bermuda: 2 males, NHM, coll. R. Gurney, no further collection data. Brazil: 2 males (1 dissected), 3 ov. females, 1 immature (not sexed), MNRJ 23333 , Atol das Rocas, Piscina de Maré in front of Farol Velho, calcareous algae, coll. F.B. Pitombo, R. Barroso , 21.12.2000 ; 2 males, 2 ov. females, MNRJ 23334 , Atol das Rocas, Piscina das Rocas , calcareous alga, coll. P.S. Young, P.C. Paiva, A.A. Aguiar, 26.10.2000 ; 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-099, Ceará, Fortaleza, Meireles beach, rocky intertidal, in rock crevices, low tide, coll. A. Anker, 28.08.2011 [fcn 11-083]; 1 female, MZUSP 26395 , Ceará, Pecém, among fouling growth, coll. UFC class, 25.05.2012 [fcn 12-044*]; 1 male, 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-111 , same collection data [12-045*]; 1 male, 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-133/134, Alagoas, Maceió, Ponta Verde , deep tide pool on partly exposed reef, in rock crevices, 0.5 m (at low tide), coll. A. Anker, P. Pachelle, 01.08.2012 [fcn 12-248, 12-250]; 1 ov. female, MZUSP 25249 , São Paulo, São Sebastião, Praia do Segredo , 23°49’40.8”S 45°25’22.3”W, snorkelling off rocky coast, coll. J.B. Mendonça, 14.02.2012 ; 1 male, MZUSP 23442 , Santa Catarina, Porto Belo, Ponta da Ensenada , 27°6’32.09”S 48°30’24.198”W, 2 m, coll. E. Thomsen, 04.05.2010 . Ascension Island: 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2008-11-0014, Comfortless Cove , 07°54.615’S 014°24.142’W, in coralline algal concretions, 2 m, coll. S. De Grave, H. Wilkins, 13.04.2008 ; 1 ov. female, OUMNH. ZC.2008-11- 0035, Comfortless Cove , 07°54.615’S 014°24.142’W, Sabellaria reef, in crevices, 1 m, coll. S. De Grave, H. Wilkens, 10.04.2008 .

Description. For description and illustrations see Coutière (1909) and Williams (1984); illustrations of a Brazilian (Atol das Rocas) specimen are provided in Fig. 26 .

Size range. Males, 3.0– 5.5 mm cl; females, 4.4–6.0 mm cl.

Colour in life. Background semitransparent with bluish-greenish tinge; body and walking legs speckled with chromatophores, appearing pinkish when contracted, intense red when expanded; major and minor chelae usually olive-greenish, sometimes bluish or blue-green, much darker distally, reddish chromatophores may be present, but only on the most proximal portion of the palm, fingertips bright orange; ovaries and freshly laid eggs pale brownish ( Figs 27 , 28 ).

Type locality. Marco , Florida .

Distribution. Western and Central Atlantic: North Carolina to Florida; Gulf of Mexico: Florida to Texas and Mexico; Bermuda; Bahamas; Caribbean Sea: e.g., Yucatan, Honduras, Belize, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, St. Martin, Barbados; Brazil: Ceará to Santa Catarina, Atol das Rocas and Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo (St. Paul’s Rocks); Saint-Helena and Ascension Islands ( Coutière 1909; Chace 1966, 1972; Holthuis et al. 1980; Williams 1984; Manning & Chace 1990; Christoffersen 1998; present study; K. Hultgren, pers. obs.; see map in Fig. 51 ); record from Thule, Greenland ( Stephensen 1950) probably based on a mislabeled specimen.

Ecology. Shallow reef and rocky habitats, depth range 0–51 m ( Williams 1984); in wide range of microhabitats on reefs and jetties, under rocks, in rock crevices, in clumps of coralline algae, amongst fouling mat, growth on mangrove roots, in wood perforated by shipworms ( Teredo ), in crevices of sabellariid reefs ( Phragmatopoma lapidosa ), zoanthids ( Zoanthus sociatus ), bryzoans ( Schizoporella sp. ), among colonies of Oculina arbuscula and Gorgonia ventalina ; among epibiotic growth on carapaces of sea turtles ( Frick et al. 2003); facultative symbiont of sponges, e.g., Ircinia campana ( Schmitt 1936; Pearse & Willians 1951; McCloskey 1970; Knowlton 1970; Goldberg 1971; Reed et al. 1982); records of S. fritzmuelleri from Callyspongia vaginalis ( Wass 1955) require confirmation as they may refer to the closely related S. hemphilli , a specialist of tube sponges (see below); typically in heterosexual pairs.

Remarks. Synalpheus fritzmuelleri is presently believed to be a single, wide-ranging, morphologically either to typical S. frizmuelleri or to S. fritzmuelleri elongatus , the latter with a much longer scaphocerite ( Coutière 1909). However, both forms are present sympatrically in Panama, Florida, and Brazil (Ceará), and in some specimens, the distinction between the two forms becomes rather blurred. We also noted that in many specimens, the slight projection of the ventral margin of the walking leg dactylus, being one of the most important diagnostic feature of S. fritzmuelleri ( Coutière 1909) , is rather faint and sometimes barely visible. A more thorough revision of S. fritzmuelleri , including analyses of the barcoding gene COI, is desirable to investigate the morphological and genetic variability of S. fritzmuelleri and confirm its status as a single species or not, as the case may be.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909: male from Atol das Rocas, Brazil (MNRJ 23333); a, frontal region,

FIGURE 27. Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909: a, male (above) and ovigerous female (below) from Isla Grande, Panama (MNHN-IU-2010-4131); b, male from Bocas del Toro, Panama (OUMNH.ZC.2012-07-096), infested by a bopyrid isopod; c, male from Marathon, Florida Keys, USA (RMNH D54839); d, female from Fort Pierce, Florida, USA (OUMNH.ZC.2012-07-098); e, f, ovigerous female from Bayahibe, Dominican Republic (RMNH D54838). Photographs: a, b, e, f, by A. Anker; c, by A.L. Rhyne, d, by J.A. Baeza.

FIGURE 28. Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909: ovigerous female from Ceará, Brazil (OUMNH. ZC.2012-07-099), in

FIGURE 51. Presently known geographic ranges of Synalpheus africanus Crosnier & Forest, 1965; S. cf. africanus (eastern and western Atlantic); S. agelas Pequegnat & Heard, 1979; S. anasimus Chace, 1972; S. antillensis Coutière, 1909; S. apioceros Coutière, 1909; S. bocas Anker & Tóth, 2008; S. bousfieldi Chace, 1972; S. brooksi Coutière, 1909; S. carpenteri Macdonald & Duffy, 2006; S. chacei Duffy, 1998; S. congoensis Crosnier & Forest, 1965; S. dardeaui (Ríos & Duffy, 2007); S. dominicensis Armstrong, 1949; S. elizabethae (Ríos & Duffy, 2007); S. filidigitus Armstrong, 1949; S. fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909; S. goodei