Descriptions of eleven new species of squat lobsters (Crustacea: Anomura) from seamounts around the Yap and Mariana Trenches with notes on DNA barcodes and phylogeny

Abstract

Abstract Seamounts are well known for the high biodiversity and endemism of their macrobenthic fauna. Hundreds of squat lobster species from seamount environments have been reported in recent years, but squat lobster fauna on the seamount groups around ocean trenches in the tropical West Pacific are still poorly known. In this paper, we describe 11 new species (two Munida, three Munidopsis, one Sternostylus, one Uroptychodes and four Uroptychus) based on specimens collected during expeditions to seamounts around the Yap Trench and Mariana Trench. Of these species, six belong to the superfamily Chirostyloidea and five belong to Galatheoidea. We also provide DNA barcode data for three genes to support the taxonomic status of these new species. The morphological variations, genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships of these species are discussed.