Axianassa Schmitt, 1924

Anker, Arthur, 2010, The mud-shrimp genus Axianassa Schmitt, 1924 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Axianassidae) in the Indo-West Pacific, with description of a new species from French Polynesia, Zootaxa 2557 (1), pp. 49-59 : 58-59

Key to the presently known species of Axianassa Schmitt, 1924

[not including Axianassa sp. in Felder et al. (2003)]

Abbreviations: EP—eastern Pacific; IWP—Indo-West Pacific; WA—western Atlantic

1. Antennal acicle long, dagger-like, apically acute ........................................................................................................ 2

- Antennal acicle short, apically bifid ................................................................. A. mineri (EP: Las Perlas Is., Panama)

2. Antennal acicle with mesial tooth................................................................................................................................. 3

- Antennal acicle without mesial tooth............................................................................................................................ 6

3. First abdominal somite produced into spiniform process ventrally............................................................................. 4

- First abdominal somite rounded ventrally .................................................................................................................... 5

4. Ischium of third maxilliped with dense row of fusiform setae ventrally; uropodal exopod with single marginal tooth; coxae of second to fourth pleopods with spinules posterolaterally ................................................................................ ........................................................................................................ A. canalis (EP: Pacific entrance of Panama Canal)

- Ischium of third maxilliped without fusiform setae; uropodal exopod without teeth on margin; coxae of second to fourth pleopods without spinules ................................................ A. australis (WA: Brazil, Colombia, Texas, Florida)

5. Cheliped ischium armed with three strong teeth on ventral margin .............................. A. jamaicensis (WA: Jamaica)

- Cheliped ischium lacking strong teeth, ventral margin finely denticulate ..................................................................... .................................................................................................................... A. intermedia (WA: Puerto Rico, Curaçao)

6. Pleura of second to fifth abdominal somites with small acute tooth ventrally; antennal acicle elongate, reaching beyond mid-length of antennular peduncle .............................................................. A. arenaria (WA: Gulf of Mexico)

- Pleura of second to fifth abdominal somites rounded; antennal acicle not elongate, not reaching mid-length of antennular peduncle ......................................................................................... A. ngochoae n. sp. (IWP: French Polynesia)