Abstract

A checklist of caridean and stenopodidean shrimps of the Caribbean coast of Panama is presented, based on material collected during two local workshops (2005, 2008) as well as extensive sampling during 2006-2010. This material is augmented by an annotated list of previously recorded species, amounting to a total of 157 species, including 20 new records. Doubtful records are discussed. The current checklist is however considered relatively incomplete as older records could not always be verified and more taxa remain to be described. Despite the deficiencies of the present list, the Caribbean coastline of Panama is clearly one of the most species rich areas in the entire Atlantic Ocean for caridean shrimps.

Key words
Caridea; Central America; faunal list; new records; Neotropical region; Stenopodidea

Introduction

Although a few early records of shrimps exist for Caribbean Panama (e.g. Kingsley, 1879Kingsley, J.S. 1879. List of the North American Crustacea belonging to the suborder Caridea. Bulletin of the Essex Institute, 10(for 1878): 53-71.; Coutière, 1909Coutière, H. 1909. The American species of snapping shrimps of the genus Synalpheus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36: 1-93.), large scale decapod faunal recording started with the work of Lawrence G. (Larry) Abele, who commenced working on the local fauna in 1968 and sampled a total of 119 stations along both the Caribbean and Pacific coastline over a 15 month period (see Abele, 1972aAbele, L.G. 1972a. Comparative habitat diversity and faunal relationships between the Pacific and Caribbean Panamanian decapod Crustacea: A preliminary report, with some remarks on the crustacean fauna of Panama. Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington, 2: 125-138.). In the same year, a significant oil spillage near the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)’s research centre at Punta Galeta, led to a three-year long study of the local habitats and communities, which started in 1970 and resulted in an extensive faunal list (see Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.). These faunal lists enabled some ecological work (e.g. Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142. on sea grass communities) and culminated in a checklist of the invertebrates of Punta Galeta (Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.).

From this, it is immediately obvious that the history of faunal recording in Panama is closely linked to the history of STRI (detailed in Robertson et al., 2009Robertson, D.R.; Christy, J.H.; Collin, R.; Cooke, R.G.; D’Croz, L.; Kaufmann, K.W.; Heckadon-Moreno, S.; Maté, J.L.; O’Dea, A. and Torchin, M.E. 2009. The Smithsonian Tropical research Institute: Marine research, education and conservation. Smithsonian Contributions to Marine Science , 38: 73-93.), which has operated several research stations along the Caribbean coast of Panama. The Punta Galeta laboratory was the first to be opened in 1964 and provided a nucleus for early records. Marine research in the San Blas archipelago followed in 1970, increasing with the opening of a laboratory in 1977, which continued for 20 years. In 2003, a state-of-the-art research laboratory (Bocas del Toro Research Station or BRS) was opened on Isla Colón in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, with the majority of shrimp records for Caribbean Panama, detailed in the present list originating in that area.

Since its opening, the BRS station has organised several international invertebrate taxonomy workshops, as well as a series of taxonomic training workshops (Collin, 2005Collin, R. 2005. Ecological monitoring and biodiversity surveys at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Bocas del Toro Research Station. Caribbean Journal of Science, 41: 367-373), both of which contributed significantly to the present checklist. Given the presence of well-equipped laboratories, numerous ecological and evolutionary studies have been carried out in the region. As a result many faunistic records are hidden in non-taxonomic publications, in which often working names have been used rather than updated nomenclature. In addition, a number of photographs or personal communications have appeared in recent years, based on species not formally recorded from the area.

The present checklist compiles this range of disparate sources using up-to-date nomenclature and classification, as well as reporting on unpublished collections largely obtained during two workshops (2005, 2008) at the BRS station, and additional fieldwork conducted in 2015. Nomenclature and classification generally follows De Grave and Fransen (2011De Grave, S. and Fransen, C.H.J.M. 2011. Carideorum Catalogus: The recent species of the dendrobranchiate, stenopodidean, procarididean and caridean shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda). Zoologische Mededelingen, 85: 195-589.), updated by De Grave et al. (2014)De Grave, S.; Li, C.P.; Tsang, L.M.; Chu, K.H. and Chan, T.-Y. 2014. Unweaving hippolytoid systematics (Crustacea, Decapoda, Hippolytidae): resurrection of several families. Zoologica Scripta , 43: 496-507. for hippolytoid families and De Grave et al. (2015)De Grave, S.; Fransen, C.H.J.M. and Page, T.J. 2015. Let’s be pals again: major systematic changes in Palaemonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). PeerJ, 3: e1167. for palaemonoid families. For literature records, the area from which the species was recorded is given, unless this was not stated in the original record, in which case “Caribbean Panama” is used. Several taxa, especially Alpheidae, were previously recorded under various codes, e.g. Synalpheus bousfieldi “A” in Morrison et al. (2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.); these have all herein been linked to formally described taxa to facilitate future studies. Questionable records are indicated by (?). Material examined for the present work is largely deposited in the Zoological Collections of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, U.K. (OUMNH.ZC) with additional samples in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) and the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA (FLMNH UF).

Systematics

Infraorder Caridea Dana, 1852

Family Alpheidae Rafinesque, 1815

Alpheopsis labis Chace, 1972

Previous records.Anker et al., 2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528.: 2510 [Isla Grande].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded in the tropical western Atlantic, mainly in the Caribbean Sea, with an unconfirmed record from Brazil; in and under coral rubble, less than 10 m. The species may need a thorough taxonomic revision (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ).

Alpheopsis trigona (Rathbun, 1901)

Previous records.Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 376 [San Blas, as A. trigonus].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded in the western Atlantic, from Bermuda southwards to Panama and Bahia, Brazil; in coral rubble, in depths of 0-46 m; a species complex being revised at the moment (Anker, in prep.).

Alpheus amarillo Anker, 2012

Previous records. Matthews and Anker, 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.: 277 [Bocas del Toro, Isla Grande; as A. cf. armillatus C]; Anker, 2012: 42 [Portobelo Bay; San Blas].

Remarks. Currently known from several localities in the Caribbean Sea, Florida and southern Gulf of Mexico (De Grave et al., 2017De Grave, S.; Anker, A.; Pindar, C.; Sandell, J. and Johnson, M.L. 2017. Eleven new records of caridean shrimps from Cuban waters (Decapoda, Caridea). Crustaceana, 90: 617-624. ); typically under rocks and coral rubble on sandy patches between coral stands, in depths of 2-30 m.

Alpheus amblyonyx Chace, 1972

Previous records.Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, sand, coral rubble, sea grass, in rubble, 0.5-2 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 27.04.2015, MZUSP 33921. Isla Grande. 1 spec., western point, leg. A. Anker et al., 09.12.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-070; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-072; 1 spec., same collection location, leg. A. Anker et al., 04.09.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-071.

Remarks. Throughout the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico southwards to Trindade Island off Espírito Santo, Brazil (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); usually on coral reefs and sea grass beds with rubble, between 0 and 25 m. Possibly more than one species involved, records from much deeper water (145 m) off north-eastern USA are highly questionable (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ).

Alpheus angulosus McClure, 2002

Previous records.Matthews and Anker, 2009Mathews, L.M. and Anker, A. 2009. Molecular phylogeny reveals extensive ancient and ongoing radiations in a snapping shrimp species complex (Crustacea, Alpheidae, Alpheus armillatus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 50: 268-281.: 277 [Bocas del Toro, Isla Grande; as A. cf. armillatus A3]; Hernáez et al., 2010Hernáez, P.; Martínez-Guerrero, B.; Anker, A. and Wehrtmann, I.S. 2010. Fecundity and effects of bopyrid infestation on egg production in the Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus yano (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , 90: 691-698.: 694 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.: 31 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, under rocks, 0.5-1 m, leg. A. Anker, 04.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-100; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-095; 4 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, under rocks, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave, 08.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-082.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina southwards to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, including Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically under rocks on fine sand, also in oyster reefs and sea grass beds; intertidal to about 5 m.

Alpheus armatus Rathbun, 1901

Previous records. (?) Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Hurt et al., 2013Hurt, C.; Silliman, K.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2013. Ecological speciation in anemone-associated snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus species complex). Molecular Ecology, 22: 4532-4548.: 4536 [Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, in rock crevice, with Bartholomea annulata (Le Sueur, 1817), leg. A. Anker, 02.05.2015, MZUSP 33537.

Remarks. Well-known species, with records from Florida, throughout Caribbean Sea and southern Gulf of Mexico (Hurt et al., 2013Hurt, C.; Silliman, K.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2013. Ecological speciation in anemone-associated snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus species complex). Molecular Ecology, 22: 4532-4548.); associated with the cork-screw sea-anemone B. annulata, typically in shallow water (1-10 m). Both earlier records from Panama, i.e. prior to the description of several closely related species (Knowlton and Keller, 1983Knowlton, N. and Keller, B.D. 1983. A new, sibling species of snapping shrimp associated with the Caribbean sea anemone Bartholomea annulata. Bulletin of Marine Science , 33: 353-362.; 1985Knowlton, N. and Keller, B.D. 1985. Two more sibling species of alpheid shrimps associated with the Caribbean sea anemones Bartholomea annulata and Heteractis lucida. Bulletin of Marine Science , 37: 893-904.), need confirmation.

Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837

Previous records. (?) Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 135 [Galeta reef]; (?) Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 234 [around Galeta Island]; (?) Heck and Wetstone, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 200 [around Galeta]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; (?) Abele and Kim, 1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.: 14 [Gatun Locks]; Matthews and Anker, 2009Mathews, L.M. and Anker, A. 2009. Molecular phylogeny reveals extensive ancient and ongoing radiations in a snapping shrimp species complex (Crustacea, Alpheidae, Alpheus armillatus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 50: 268-281.: 277 [Bocas del Toro, Isla Grande; as A. cf. armillatus A]; Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.: 9 [Isla Grande, Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.924’N 082°19.824’W, in rubble in sea grass bed, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-117; 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), 09°14.502’N 082°08.288’W, under rocks and coral rubble, 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 11.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-122.

Remarks. Known with certainty from several localities in the Caribbean Sea, southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico (Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); records from further north (eastern USA) or south (Brazil) belong to either A. angulosus or one of the new species described in Anker (2012)Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.; in mixed sand-rubble habitats, 0-10 m. The true identity of older Panamanian records cannot be resolved as they may refer to any of the Caribbean species of the A. armillatus complex (see Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.).

Alpheus bahamensis Rankin, 1898

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 135 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, in rubble, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave and A. Anker, 08.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-080; 3 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-079; 1 spec., Isla Colón, between Puss Head and Playa Bluff, leg. A. Anker et al., 13.11.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-030. Isla Grande. 2 spec., western point, leg. A. Anker et al., 21.04.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-059.

Remarks. Tropical western Atlantic, from Bermuda southwards to Tobago (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.), including southern Gulf of Mexico, most common on coral reefs, in crevices of dead corals, 0-5 m.

Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne-Edwards, 1878

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Hurt et al., 2009Hurt, C.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2009. A multilocus test of simultaneous divergence across the Isthmus of Panama using snapping shrimp in the genus Alpheus. Evolution , 63: 514-530.: 516 [Caribbean coast]; Anker et al., 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.: 5 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic species, in the western Atlantic recorded from Bermuda southwards to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and southern Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.; Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); usually in rock or dead coral crevices, intertidal to about 5 m.

Alpheus carlae Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.

Previous records. Matthews and Anker, 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.: 277 [Caribbean Panama; as A. cf. armillatus F]; Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.: 61 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from the Florida Keys southwards to the Caribbean Sea and São Paulo, Brazil (Almeida et al., 2015Almeida, A.O.; Santos, P.S.; Soledade, G.O.; Santos, J.P. and Pérez, C.D. 2015. New invertebrate host records (Porifera and Cnidaria) for some caridean shrimps in estuaries of north-eastern Brazil. Marine Biodiversity Records, 8: e38.); in a wide range of habitats (rocky shores, mangroves, sea grass beds), typically under rocks in the intertidal or shallow subtidal (less than 5 m).

Alpheus chacei Carvacho, 1979

Previous records.Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro.1 spec., Laguna Chiriqui, off Punta Robalo, 20-50m, by dredge, leg. J. Jara et al., 14.10.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-031; same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-032.

Remarks. Currently known from Guadeloupe, Cuba, Panama and several Brazilian states (Pará to São Paulo) (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); restricted to estuaries and mangroves, in burrows in soft mud, intertidal to 5 m.

Alpheus christofferseni Anker, Hurt and Knowlton, 2007

Previous records.Anker et al., 2007aAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2007a. Three transisthmian snapping shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae: Alpheus) associated with innkeeper worms (Echiura: Thalassematidae) in Panama. Zootaxa , 1626: 1-23.: 4 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Carenero, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, in burrow, 0.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 06.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-093; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, sea grass flat, in burrow, suction pump, 0.2-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 01.05.2015, MZUSP 33938.

Remarks. Currently known only from Atol das Rocas, Brazil, and Caribbean coast of Panama (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); in burrows on intertidal or shallow sea grass flats (0-1 m), associated with echiurans.

Alpheus cristulifrons Rathbun, 1900

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 272 [around Colón]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 135 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Knowlton et al., 1993Knowlton, N.; Weight, L.A.; Solorzano, L.A.; Mills, D.E.K. and Bermingham, E. 1993. Divergence in proteins, mitochondrial DNA, and reproductive compatibility across the Isthmus of Panama. Science, 260: 1629-1632.: 1630 [Caribbean Panama]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Anker et al., 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.a: 549 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, in rubble, 1-2 m, leg. A. Anker and S. De Grave, 09.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-089, 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC. 2008-14-084.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the tropical western Atlantic, from the northern Gulf of Mexico and Florida southwards to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); usually dwelling deep in rubble crevices, in depths of 0-15 m.

Alpheus estuariensis Christoffersen, 1984

Previous records.Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Playa de las Estrellas, 09°24.297’N 082°19.490’W, in burrow in muddy sand close to mangrove creek, suction pump, less than 0.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 09.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-083.

Remarks. Distributed in the western Atlantic from Florida to Santa Catarina, Brazil, with few records in the Caribbean Sea (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); in burrows in estuaries and mangroves, intertidal to about 5 m.

Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979: 198 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Bracken-Grissom and Felder, 2014Bracken-Grissom, H.D. and Felder, D.L. 2014. Provisional revision of American snapping shrimp allied to Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae) with notes on A. floridanus africanus. Zootaxa , 3895: 451-491.: 453 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Carenero, near Buccaneer, shallow sea grass beds, suction pump, 0.5-1 m, leg. A. Anker, 02.05.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-102; 1 spec., same location, leg. A. Anker et al., 14.11.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-105; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-103; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-104; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-006; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-123.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the tropical western Atlantic, from Florida southwards to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and throughout Caribbean Sea; in shallow sand flats or sea grass beds, extending down to about 55 m. Some records prior to the revision of the A. floridanus species complex (Bracken-Grissom and Felder, 2014Bracken-Grissom, H.D. and Felder, D.L. 2014. Provisional revision of American snapping shrimp allied to Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae) with notes on A. floridanus africanus. Zootaxa , 3895: 451-491.) may refer to closely related species, e.g. Alpheus roblesiBracken-Grissom and Felder, 2014Bracken-Grissom, H.D. and Felder, D.L. 2014. Provisional revision of American snapping shrimp allied to Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae) with notes on A. floridanus africanus. Zootaxa , 3895: 451-491. or Alpheus platycheirus Boone, 1927 (see below).

Alpheus formosus Gibbes, 1850

Previous records. (?) Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 272 [around Colón]; (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef]; (?) Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 200 [Caribbean Panama]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; (?) Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. 1977. Comparative species richness, composition and abundance of invertebrates in Caribbean seagrass (Thalassa testudinum) meadows (Panamá). Marine Biology , 41: 335-348.: 338 [area around Galeta island]; Knowlton and Mills, 1992Knowlton, N. and Mills, D.E.K. 1992. The systematic importance of color and color pattern: evidence for complexes of sibling species of snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Alpheus) from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama. Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History, 18: 1-5.: 2 [Caribbean Panama]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama, as A. formosus sp. a]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama, as A. formosus A]; Anker et al., 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.b: 5 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Remarks. Common and conspicuous species widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina southwards to São Paulo and Trindade Island, Brazil, including most of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2008bAnker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.; 2016Anker, A.; Tavares, M. and Mendonça, J.B. 2016. Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. Zootaxa , 4138: 1-58. ); typically in reef and nearby habitats, especially amongst rubble, in depth of 0-40 m. Older records may refer to the relatively recently described Alpheus paraformosus Anker, Hurt and Knowlton, 2008, which also occurs in Panama (see below).

Alpheus heterochaelis Say, 1818

Previous records. (?) Kingsley, 1879Kingsley, J.S. 1879. List of the North American Crustacea belonging to the suborder Caridea. Bulletin of the Essex Institute, 10(for 1878): 53-71.: 58 [Panama]; (?) Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; (?) Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama]; (?) Abele and Kim, 1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.: 15 [Gatun Locks].

Remarks. The presence of A. heterochaelis in Panama is highly questionable and all herein listed records are considered as doubtful. Most likely, these records refer to one or both recently described Atlantic species which are morphologically similar to A. heterochaelis: Alpheus buckupiAlmeida, Terossi, Araújo-Silva and Mantelatto, 2013Almeida, A.O.; Costa-Souza, A.C.; Cunha, A.M.; Santos, P.S.; Oliviera, M.V. and Soledade, G.O. 2013. Estuarine caridean shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) from Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil: Updated checklist and a key for their identification. Check List, 9: 1396-1405. (known from the Lesser Antilles southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, as well as São Tomé in the eastern Atlantic, see Pachelle et al., 2016Pachelle, P.P G.; Anker, A.; Mendes, C.B. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2016. Decapod crustaceans from the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil: an updated checklist of marine and estuarine species, with 23 new records. Zootaxa, 4131: 1-63. ) and/or Alpheus petronioi Almeida, Terossi and Mantelatto, 2014 (known from Colombia and Venezuela to São Paulo, Brazil, see Almeida et al., 2014Almeida, A.O.; Terossi, M. and Mantelatto, F.L. 2014. Morphology and DNA analyses reveal a new cryptic snapping shrimp of the Alpheus heterochaelis Say, 1818 (Decapoda: Alpheidae) species complex from the western Atlantic. Zoosystema, 36: 53-71.).

Alpheus immaculatus Knowlton and Keller, 1983

Previous records.Hurt et al., 2013Hurt, C.; Silliman, K.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2013. Ecological speciation in anemone-associated snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus species complex). Molecular Ecology, 22: 4532-4548.: 4536 [Isla Grande].

Remarks. Recorded from several scattered locations in the Caribbean Sea and the southern Gulf of Mexico (De Grave et al., 2017De Grave, S.; Anker, A.; Pindar, C.; Sandell, J. and Johnson, M.L. 2017. Eleven new records of caridean shrimps from Cuban waters (Decapoda, Caridea). Crustaceana, 90: 617-624. ); always associated with the cork-screw sea-anemone B. annulata at depths of 8-17 m.

Alpheus intrinsecus Spence Bate, 1888

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, on sand under rocks, less than 1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 29.04.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-013; 1 spec., Isla Carenero, northern side, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, in crevice of sunken tree trunk, 0.5 m, leg. B. Martínez-Guerrero, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-098.

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic distributed from Puerto Rico southwards to Santa Catarina, Brazil (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.), appears to be much more common in Brazil; usually found under rocks in sandy-rocky habitats, 0-30 m. The specimens from Bocas del Toro represent the first record of the species for Panama.

Alpheus lancirostris Rankin, 1900

Previous records. Matthews and Anker, 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.: 277 [San Blas Islands; as A. cf. armillatus J]; Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.: 18 [San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from Bermuda southwards to Venezuela and Panama (Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically encountered under large rocks or in rubble, close to coral reefs, 0-2 m.

Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Hurt et al., 2009Hurt, C.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2009. A multilocus test of simultaneous divergence across the Isthmus of Panama using snapping shrimp in the genus Alpheus. Evolution , 63: 514-530.: 516 [Caribbean Panama]; Anker and Pachelle, 2013Anker, A. and Pachelle, P.P.G. 2013. Re-examination of the eastern Pacific and Atlantic material of Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852, with the description of Alpheus wonkimi sp. nov. (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3637: 412-431.: 415 [Isla Grande].

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic known based on a few records from Florida southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and southern Gulf of Mexico (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); lives deep in cavities in exposed rocky and coral reef substrates, 0-5 m.

Alpheus mathewsae Anker, 2012

Previous records. Matthews and Anker, 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.: 277 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande; as A. cf. armillatus H1]; Anker, 2012: 68 [Isla Grande; Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, southern shore near Bastimentos village, fine sand and mud near mangroves, under large pieces of rubble, 0-1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 29.04.2015, MZUSP 34045.

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from Florida southwards to Panama (Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically found under rocks and coral rubble on fine sand or silt, in sheltered locations, 0-2 m

Alpheus nuttingi (Schmitt, 1924)

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Knowlton and Mills, 1992Knowlton, N. and Mills, D.E.K. 1992. The systematic importance of color and color pattern: evidence for complexes of sibling species of snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Alpheus) from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama. Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History, 18: 1-5.: 2 [Caribbean Panama]; Knowlton et al., 1993Knowlton, N.; Weight, L.A.; Solorzano, L.A.; Mills, D.E.K. and Bermingham, E. 1993. Divergence in proteins, mitochondrial DNA, and reproductive compatibility across the Isthmus of Panama. Science, 260: 1629-1632.: 1630 [Caribbean Panama]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Anker et al., 2007bAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2007b. Revision of the Alpheus nuttingi (Schmitt) complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with description of a new species from the tropical eastern Pacific. Zootaxa , 1577: 41-60.: 44 [Bocas del Toro; Colón]; Hurt et al., 2009Hurt, C.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2009. A multilocus test of simultaneous divergence across the Isthmus of Panama using snapping shrimp in the genus Alpheus. Evolution , 63: 514-530.: 516 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 2 spec., Isla Colón, between STRI and Playa Bluff, sand flat with rubble, 0.3-1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 26.04.2015, MZUSP 34036. Isla Grande. 1 spec., western point, leg. A. Anker et al., 23.04.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-020. Portobelo. 2 spec., coral rubble, leg. A. Anker and A. Baeza, 04.08.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-044.

Remarks. Common western Atlantic species, widely distributed from Florida southwards to Santa Catarina, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); typically on sandy bottoms under rocks and rubble or in crevices of dead corals, 0-5 m.

Alpheus packardii Kingsley, 1880

Previous records. (?) Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island, as Alpheus normanni Kingsley, 1878]; (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef, as A. normanni]; (?) Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama, as A. normanni]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point, as A. normanni]; (?) Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama, as A. normanni]; (?) Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama, as A. normanni A, B, C].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, under rocks near sea grass, 0.5-1 m, leg. A. Anker, 04.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-108; many spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, intertidal and shallow subtidal near sea grass bed, at night, leg. A. Anker, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-081; 1 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI station pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, dredge, 0.5 m, leg. S. De Grave, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-084; 1 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI station pier 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, sea grass bed, sledge at night, S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-096, 2 spec., same location, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-097.

Remarks.Alpheus packardii is part of the still unresolved transisthmian A. normanni species complex, which includes at least five (pseudo)cryptic taxa (Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.; Anker, in prep.). Therefore, the true identity of the material recorded under this name from the Caribbean coast of Panama is currently unknown, but it is certain that more than one species from this complex is present in the area (Anker, in prep.).

Alpheus paracrinitus Miers, 1881

Previous records. (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; (?) Knowlton and Mills, 1992Knowlton, N. and Mills, D.E.K. 1992. The systematic importance of color and color pattern: evidence for complexes of sibling species of snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Alpheus) from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama. Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History, 18: 1-5.: 2 [Caribbean Panama]; (?) Knowlton et al., 1993Knowlton, N.; Weight, L.A.; Solorzano, L.A.; Mills, D.E.K. and Bermingham, E. 1993. Divergence in proteins, mitochondrial DNA, and reproductive compatibility across the Isthmus of Panama. Science, 260: 1629-1632.: 1630 [Caribbean Panama, as A. paracrinitus sp. a and b]; (?) Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama, as A. paracrinitus sp. a and b]; (?) Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama, as A. paracrinitus “no spot A”, “no spot B” and “spot”].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.924’N 082°19.834’W, sea grass bed, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-107; 3 spec., same location, in rubble among sea grass, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-118; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, under rocks, 0.5-1 m, leg. A. Anker, 04.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-105; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-106.

Remarks.Alpheus paracrinitus is an unresolved pantropical species complex, with at least two taxa present along the Caribbean coast of Panama, substantiated by differences in their colour patterns as well as molecular data (Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.).

Alpheus paraformosus Anker, Hurt and Knowlton, 2008

Previous records.Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama, as A. formosus sp. a]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama, as A. formosus B]; Anker et al., 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.b: 12 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande; San Blas Islands]; Hurt et al., 2009Hurt, C.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2009. A multilocus test of simultaneous divergence across the Isthmus of Panama using snapping shrimp in the genus Alpheus. Evolution , 63: 514-530.: 516 [Caribbean coast].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°19.996’N 082°13.161’W, in shallow rubble, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-028; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, in coral rubble, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave, 09.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC. 2008-14-087; many spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral, in empty conch shells, leg. C. Tavares, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-135.

Remarks. Presently known from a few scattered Caribbean localities, including St. Martin, Panama (Bocas del Toro, Isla Grande), and Honduras (Bay Islands), as well as the southern Gulf of Mexico (Alacranes Reef off Yucatan) (Anker et al., 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.b; Duarte et al., 2014Duarte, J.; Hermoso-Salazar, M.; Anker, A. and Simões, N. 2014. New records of alpheid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the southern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Biodiversity Records , 7: e110.); typically dwelling in coral rubble crevices in shallow water, 0-3 m. Anker et al. (2008b)Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2008b. Revision of the Alpheus formosus Gibbes, 1850 complex, with redescription of A. formosus and description of a new species from the tropical western Atlantic (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1707: 1-22. listed San Blas Islands as an additional Panamanian locality for A. paraformosus, however, without having deposited a voucher specimen.

Alpheus peasei (Armstrong, 1940)

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, in coral rubble, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave and A. Anker, 09.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-090; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-086; 2 spec., Isla Colón, between Big Creek and Playa Bluff, leg. A. Anker et al., 18.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-156; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.924’N 082°19.824’W, in coral rubble among sea grass, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-114.

Remarks. Widely distributed from Bermuda southwards to Bahia and Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, Brazil, including most of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); occurs in a variety of hard-bottom habitats, typically on coral reefs and in coralline algae, 1-30 m, but most common in very shallow water (less than 5 m).

Alpheus platycheirus Boone, 1927

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, near Bastimentos village, shallow muddy flat, suction pump, 0.2-1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 18.11.2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528., OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-157; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-004; same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2012-07-001; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-007; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-005; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 0.2-1.5 m, 02.05.2015, MZUSP 34283.

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean as well as Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (Chace, 1972Chace, F.A. Jr. 1972. The shrimps of the Smithsonian-Bredin Caribbean expeditions with a summary of the West Indian shallow-water species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Natantia). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology , 98: 1-179.), now Panama; on muddy bottoms, usually between 12-122 m, although the present specimens were from much shallower water.

Alpheus polystictus Knowlton and Keller, 1985

Previous records.Knowlton and Keller, 1985Knowlton, N. and Keller, B.D. 1985. Two more sibling species of alpheid shrimps associated with the Caribbean sea anemones Bartholomea annulata and Heteractis lucida. Bulletin of Marine Science , 37: 893-904.: 897 [Caribbean Panama]; Hurt et al., 2013Hurt, C.; Silliman, K.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2013. Ecological speciation in anemone-associated snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus species complex). Molecular Ecology, 22: 4532-4548.: 4536 [Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, in rock crevice, with B. annulata, ~1 m, leg. A. Anker, 02.05.2015, MZUSP 33493.

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from southern Florida southwards to Venezuela and Panama, but not (yet) recorded from the Gulf of Mexico (Hurt et al., 2013Hurt, C.; Silliman, K.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2013. Ecological speciation in anemone-associated snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus species complex). Molecular Ecology, 22: 4532-4548.); obligate associate of the cork-screw sea-anemone, B. annulata in shallow water, 1-12 m.

Alpheus punctatus Anker, 2012

(Fig. 1A)

Previous records.Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 50 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, sand, coral rubble, sea grass, under large pieces of rubble, 0.5-2 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 27.04.2015, MZUSP 33922; 1 spec., same collection data, MZUSP 34055; 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), fine sand, rubble, sea grass, under large piece of rubble, 0.5-2 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 28.04.2015, MZUSP 33656.

Remarks. Currently known from the Caribbean coast of Panama, Costa Rica, British Virgin Islands, the Florida Keys and Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico, but likely more widespread in the Caribbean Sea (Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); under coral rubble on sand-rubble bottoms near sea grass and mangroves, 0-9 m.

Alpheus schmitti Chace, 1972

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Hurt et al., 2009Hurt, C.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2009. A multilocus test of simultaneous divergence across the Isthmus of Panama using snapping shrimp in the genus Alpheus. Evolution , 63: 514-530.: 516 [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. The species has been recorded from the Florida Keys, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and several localities in the Caribbean Sea, including Dominican Republic, Colombia and Panama (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); lives in self-constructed galleries inside dead corals, usually in exposed areas and in very shallow water (0-2 m).

Alpheus simus Guérin-Méneville, 1856

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón, as Thunor rathbunae (Schmitt, 1924)]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136/137 [Galeta reef, as A. simus and T. rathbunae]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point, as T. rathbunae]; Knowlton et al., 1993Knowlton, N.; Weight, L.A.; Solorzano, L.A.; Mills, D.E.K. and Bermingham, E. 1993. Divergence in proteins, mitochondrial DNA, and reproductive compatibility across the Isthmus of Panama. Science, 260: 1629-1632.: 1630 [Caribbean Panama]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Wehrtmann and Albornoz, 2002Wehrtmann, I.S. and Albornoz, L. 2002. Evidence of different reproductive traits in the transisthmian sister species, Alpheus saxidomus and A. simus (Decapoda, Caridea, Alpheidae): description of the first postembryonic stage. Marine Biology , 140: 605-612.: 606 [Aguadargana Island]; Bezerra and Almeida, 2008Bezerra, L.E.A. and Almeida, A.O. 2008. Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea, Alpheidae, Alpheus simus Guérin-Méneville, 1856: Further report from Brazilian waters. Check List , 4: 57-61.: 59 [Isla Grande]; Hurt et al., 2009Hurt, C.; Anker, A. and Knowlton, N. 2009. A multilocus test of simultaneous divergence across the Isthmus of Panama using snapping shrimp in the genus Alpheus. Evolution , 63: 514-530.: 516 [Caribbean coast of Panama]

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°19.996’N 082°13.161’W, in coral rubble in shallow water, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2000, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-030; 2 spec., same collection data, leg. C. Ashelby, 04.08.2000, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-131.

Remarks. Widely distributed from southern Florida southwards to Bahia, Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); endolithic in coral rocks and dead coral heads, sometimes also in live corals, 1-10 m.

Alpheus thomasi Hendrix and Gore, 1973

Previous records.Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Anker et al., 2008cAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2008c. Revision of the Alpheus websteri Kingsley, 1880 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with revalidation of A. arenensis (Chace, 1937). Zootaxa , 1694: 51-68.: 54 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.924’N 082°19.824’W, in rubble among sea grass, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-115; 2 spec., Isla Colón, between STRI station and Playa Bluff, sand and fossil coral terrace, in crevices and under rubble, 0.3-1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 26.04.2015, MZUSP 33640; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, in rubble crevices, 0.2 -1.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 01.05.2015, MZUSP 34040.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from Florida southwards to Paraná, Brazil, including most of the Caribbean Sea and southern Gulf of Mexico (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); occurs in a variety of mixed bottom habitats (reefs, lagoons, rocky and rocky-sandy shores etc.), 0-2 m.

Alpheus vanderbilti Boone, 1930

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas, as Alpheus cylindricus Kingsley, 1878]; Knowlton and Mills, 1992Knowlton, N. and Mills, D.E.K. 1992. The systematic importance of color and color pattern: evidence for complexes of sibling species of snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Alpheus) from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama. Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History, 18: 1-5.: 2 [Caribbean Panama, as A. cylindricus]; Knowlton et al., 1993Knowlton, N.; Weight, L.A.; Solorzano, L.A.; Mills, D.E.K. and Bermingham, E. 1993. Divergence in proteins, mitochondrial DNA, and reproductive compatibility across the Isthmus of Panama. Science, 260: 1629-1632.: 1630 [Caribbean Panama, as A. cylindricus]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama, as A. cylindricus]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama, as A. cylindricus]; Anker et al., 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.d: 60 [San Blas].

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic species, in the western Atlantic recorded from Bermuda southwards to Bahia and Trindade Island, Brazil (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ); on the Caribbean coast of Panama typically found inside large loggerhead sponges, Spheciospongia vesparia (Lamarck, 1814), in shallow water (less than 5 m), but also recorded from deep-water rubble down to 45-67 m. In older Atlantic literature known under the name A. cylindricus, which is now restricted to the tropical eastern Pacific (see Anker et al., 2008dAnker, A.; Hurt, C.; Jara, J.A. and Knowlton, N. 2008d. Revision of the Alpheus cylindricus Kingsley, 1878 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with revalidation of A. vanderbilti Boone, 1930. Zootaxa , 1943: 53-68.).

Alpheus verrilli (Schmitt, 1924)

Previous records. Matthews and Anker, 2009Anker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2009. Description of cryptic taxa within the Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne Edwards, 1878 and A. hebes Kim and Abele, 1988 species complexes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 2153: 1-23.: 277 [Bocas del Toro; as A. cf. armillatus I and A. cf. verrilli]; Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.: 22 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from the Florida Keys southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including some localities in the Caribbean Sea (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); typically found under larger rocks or coral rubble near reefs or rocky-sandy shores, 0-4 m.

Alpheus viridari (Armstrong, 1949)

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Heck and Wetstone, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 200 [around Galeta]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Anker et al., 2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528.: 2510 [Isla Grande]; Matthews and Anker, 2009Mathews, L.M. and Anker, A. 2009. Molecular phylogeny reveals extensive ancient and ongoing radiations in a snapping shrimp species complex (Crustacea, Alpheidae, Alpheus armillatus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 50: 268-281.: 277 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker, 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.: 85 [Isla Grande; Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, sea grass bed, at night, leg. S. De Grave, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-104; 1 spec., same location, under rocks on mud, 0.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 05.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-094; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-110; 2 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, sea grass bed, in burrows, leg. A. Anker et al., 12.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-021. Isla Grande. 1 spec., southwestern side, under rocks on fine sand, leg. A. Anker et al., 21.04.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-019; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-055.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the tropical northwestern Atlantic, from southern Florida southwards to Venezuela, including the entire Caribbean Sea and southern parts of the Gulf of Mexico (Anker, 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically encountered in sea grass beds or close to mangroves, in burrows or under large rocks, 0-3 m.

Alpheus websteri Kingsley, 1880

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef, as Alpheus ridleyi Pocock, 1890]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point, as A. ridleyi]; Knowlton and Weigt, 1998Knowlton, N. and Weight, L.A. 1998. New dates and new rates for divergence across the Isthmus of Panama. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265: 2257-2263.: 2258 [Caribbean Panama]; Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.: 377 [Caribbean Panama]; Anker et al., 2008cAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2008c. Revision of the Alpheus websteri Kingsley, 1880 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with revalidation of A. arenensis (Chace, 1937). Zootaxa , 1694: 51-68.: 54 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 2 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Playa Polo, in coral rubble, 1-2 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 29.04.2015, MZUSP 33575. Isla Grande. 1 spec., south-western point, in rubble crevices, less than 2 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 27.03.2015, MZUSP 33599.

Remarks. Rarely collected but relatively widespread in the western Atlantic, from the Florida Keys southwards to Atol das Rocas, off north-eastern Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and southern Gulf of Mexico (Soledade and Almeida, 2013Soledade, G.O. and Almeida, A.O. 2013. Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 from Brazil (Caridea: Alpheidae): updated checklist and key for identification. Nauplius , 21: 89-122.); typically encountered on coral or rocky reefs, 0-10 m.

Automate dolichognatha De Man, 1888 sensu lato

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, under rocks, 0.5-1 m, leg. A. Anker, 04.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-109; 1 spec., Isla Carenero, eastern side, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, under rocks and coral rubble, 0.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-097.

Remarks.Automate dolichognatha is an almost pantropical taxon, absent only in the eastern Atlantic (where it appears to be “replaced” by the closely related Automate talismani Coutière, 1900) (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ). However, the morphological variability and some differences in the colouration suggest that it might represent a species complex. The material from Bocas del Toro is the first record of A. dolichognatha for the Caribbean coast of Panama.

Automate evermanni Rathbun, 1901 sensu lato

Previous records.Hernáez et al., 2010Hernáez, P.; Martínez-Guerrero, B.; Anker, A. and Wehrtmann, I.S. 2010. Fecundity and effects of bopyrid infestation on egg production in the Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus yano (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , 90: 691-698.: 694 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI dock, by yabby pump, leg. A. Anker et al., 09.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-033.

Remarks. Possibly transisthmian and amphi-Atlantic species complex (A. Anker, pers. obs.); in the western Atlantic occurring from Virginia and the northern Gulf of Mexico southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Almeida et al., 2012Almeida, A.O.; Boehs, G.; Araújo-Silva, C.L. and Bezerra, L.E.O. 2012. Shallow-water caridean shrimps from southern Bahia, Brazil, including the first record of Synalpheus ul (Ríos and Duffy, 2007) (Alpheidae) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa , 3347: 1-35.); facultative associate of ghost shrimps (Callianassidae), 0-250 m.

Automate rectifrons Chace, 1972

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 136 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Isla Grande. La Guaria, leg. A. Anker and A. Baeza, 04.08.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-034.

Remarks. Sparsely recorded from Florida southwards to Panama (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); most frequently encountered in coral rubble, 0-15 m.

Fenneralpheus chacei Felder and Manning, 1986

Previous records.Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.: 28 [Bocas del Toro]

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, sea grass bed with sand patches, 0.2-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 01.05.2015, MZUSP 33574.

Remarks. This rarely collected species is known only from two localities, southern Florida (near Fort Pierce) and Caribbean Panama (Bocas del Toro) (Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.), but is presumably more widespread in the Caribbean Sea; always encountered in burrows in mud or fine sand, however, the host animal remains unknown; probably confined to intertidal and shallow subtidal waters, with one specimen found in the stomach of a sand perch taken at 31 m.

Fenneralpheus orabovis Anker, 2011

(Fig. 1B)

Previous records.Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.: 32 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Isla Grande. 1 spec., SW part, muddy bottom, 1-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 27.03.2015, OUMNH.ZC.2015-08-003; 1 spec., same collection data, MZUSP 33542.

Remarks. Presently known only from the type series from Isla Bastimentos in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago (Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.) and two additional specimens from Isla Grande (present material); inhabits burrows of yet unknown hosts, in shallow water (less than 1.5 m).

Leptalpheus felderi Anker, Vera Caripe and Lira, 2006

Previous records.Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.: 8 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Presently known only from the southern Caribbean Sea: Venezuela, Colombia and Panama (Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.); associated with mud shrimps of the genus Upogebia Leach, 1814, in very shallow water (0-1 m).

Leptalpheus cf . forceps Williams, 1965

Previous records.Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.: 6 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, suction pump, from burrow of Lepidophthalmus cf. sinuensis Lemaitre and Rodrigues, leg. A. Anker, 11.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-119.

Remarks. The Panamanian specimens are provisionally assigned to L. forceps following Anker (2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.), as they show some minor morphological differences to the populations from North Carolina (type locality) and elsewhere. Recorded from North Carolina southwards to Panama and Ceará, Brazil (Pachelle et al., 2016Pachelle, P.P G.; Anker, A.; Mendes, C.B. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2016. Decapod crustaceans from the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil: an updated checklist of marine and estuarine species, with 23 new records. Zootaxa, 4131: 1-63. ); associated with several species of ghost and mud shrimps (Callianassidae, Upogebiidae) in very shallow water (0-5 m).

Leptalpheus pereirai Anker and Vera Caripe, 2016

Previous records.Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.: 24 [Bocas del Toro, as Leptalpheus sp. 1]; Anker and Vera Caripe, 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. : 186 [Isla Grande; between Colón and Portobelo; Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Presently known only from Panama and Venezuela (Anker and Vera Caripe, 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ); probably associated with the large ghost shrimp Glypturus acanthochirus Stimpson, 1866, 0-2 m.

Leptalpheus pierrenoeli Anker, 2008

Previous records.Anker, 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.: 783 [Isla Grande].

Remarks. Presently known only from the holotype collected on the southern shore of Isla Grande, Panama, from a burrow of an unknown host (Anker, 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.).

Metalpheus rostratipes (Pocock, 1890)

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Isla Grande. 1 spec., western point, in coral rocks, 0.5-1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 06.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2011-03-048; 1 spec., north-eastern side, in coralline algae and coral rocks, leg. A. Anker et al., 16.09.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2010-01-051.

Remarks. A pantropical taxon, in the western Atlantic recorded from Puerto Rico southwards to Fernando do Noronha, off northeastern Brazil, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ); living in crevices of coralline algae and dead corals, 0-12 m.

Salmoneus armatus Anker, 2010

Previous records.Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.: 181 [Isla Grande; Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. This species remains known only from two specimens, one from Isla Grande and the other from the Bocas del Toro (Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.); inhabits small spaces under rocks in water less than 1 m deep.

Salmoneus camaroncito Anker, 2010

Previous records.Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.: 184 [Isla Grande; San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Presently known only from Panama (Isla Grande, San Blas Islands) and Honduras (Bay Islands) (Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.); under coral rubble in very shallow water (less than 1.5 m).

Salmoneus cavicolus Felder and Manning, 1986

Material examined. Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Carenero, eastern side, near Buccaneer, shallow sea grass flat, 0.5-1 m, suction pump, leg. A. Anker and I.N. Marin, 02.05.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2015-08-029.

Remarks. Only known from Indian River Lagoon (Florida, USA), Turks and Caicos Islands (Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.) and now Panama; associated with burrows of unknown hosts on sandy mud flats, sometimes among or proximal to sea grass beds, 0.5-3 m.

Salmoneus degravei Anker 2010

Previous records.Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.: 188 [Isla Grande].

Remarks. Currently known only from the southern Caribbean Sea: Panama (both records from Isla Grande), Colombia, Venezuela and Tobago (Anker, 2011aAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.); likely a commensal in burrows of ghost shrimps, Neocallichirus spp., 0-1 m.

Salmoneus depressus Anker, 2011

Previous records.Anker, 2011bAnker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.: 44 [Bocas del Toro; San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Although described only recently, S. depressus appears to be widely distributed in the western Atlantic, being known from Panama, Venezuela, St. Martin, Barbados and São Paulo, Brazil (Anker et al., 2013Anker, A. and Pachelle, P.P.G. 2013. Re-examination of the eastern Pacific and Atlantic material of Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852, with the description of Alpheus wonkimi sp. nov. (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3637: 412-431.); typically found under rocks or coral rubble on sand flats, 0-7 m.

Salmoneus ortmanni (Rankin, 1898)

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta Point]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.: 199 [Isla Grande; Portobelo; Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, under coral rubble, 1-2 m, leg. A. Anker, 09.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-092.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic from Bermuda southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2013Anker, A. and Pachelle, P.P.G. 2013. Re-examination of the eastern Pacific and Atlantic material of Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852, with the description of Alpheus wonkimi sp. nov. (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3637: 412-431.); under rocks and rubble and in crevices of dead corals, 0-22 m.

Salmoneus wehrtmanni Anker, 2010

Previous records.Anker et al., 2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528.: 2510 [Isla Grande, as S. ortmanni]; Anker, 2010aAnker, A. 2010a. The shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae) in the tropical western Atlantic, with description of five new species. In: S. De Grave and C.H.J.M. Fransen (eds), Contributions to shrimp taxonomy. Zootaxa , 2372: 177-205.: 193 [Isla Grande; La Guaira; Bocas del Toro; San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Appears to be widespread in the Caribbean Sea, being known from Panama (several localities, see above), Honduras (Bay Islands), Mexico (Quintana Roo) and Tobago (Anker, 2010aAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.); under rocks and rubble on fine sand, 0-2 m.

Synalpheus cf. africanus Crosnier and Forest, 1965

Previous records: (?) Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón, as Synalpheus tenuispinaCoutière, 1909Coutière, H. 1909. The American species of snapping shrimps of the genus Synalpheus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36: 1-93.]; (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef, as S. tenuispina]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point, as S. tenuispina]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 9 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. The true identity of the western Atlantic material assigned to this taxon in Anker et al. (2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.) is unclear. Earlier records listed above likely refer to the same taxon and not S. tenuispina, a much larger species originally described from southern Brazil (see Anker and Pachelle, 2014Anker, A. and Pachelle, P.P.G. 2014. Taxonomic notes on some Brazilian species of Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888, with new records and description of a new species (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3815: 215-232. for a redescription).

Synalpheus agelas Pequegnat and Heard, 1979

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.; 8 [San Blas Islands, as Zuzalpheus agelas].

Remarks. Widespread western Atlantic species, distributed from Texas southwards to Trindade Island, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ); exclusively associated with sponges of the genus Agelas Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864, in male-female pairs, 1-91 m.

Synalpheus anasimus Chace, 1972

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 574 [Porvenir, San Blas Islands]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Widely distributed but rather uncommon species, known from Veracruz, Yucatan and Quintana Roo in Mexico, as well as Cuba, St. Martin and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); in coral rubble, 0-3 m.

Synalpheus androsi Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks.Hultgren and Duffy (2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.) included “S. androsi (Panama)” as a terminal in their phylogram, but only listed material from Belize under sequenced material. Thus, the presence of S. androsi in Panama requires confirmation. This pair-living species is known from only a few localities in the Caribbean Sea, Bahamas and north-eastern Brazil; lives in various sponges, 14-55 m (Anker and Pachelle, 2014Anker, A. and Pachelle, P.P.G. 2014. Taxonomic notes on some Brazilian species of Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888, with new records and description of a new species (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3815: 215-232.).

Synalpheus ankeri Hultgren and Brandt, 2015

Previous records.Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Bocas del Toro, as Synalpheus paraneptunus-4]; Hultgren and Brandt, 2015Hultgren, K.M. and Brandt, A. 2015. Taxonomy and phylogenetics of the Synalpheus paraneptunus-species-complex (Decapoda: Alpheidae) with a description of two new species. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 35: 547-558.: 549 [Panama].

Remarks. This recently described pair-living species from the Synalpheus paraneptunusCoutière, 1909Coutière, H. 1909. The American species of snapping shrimps of the genus Synalpheus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36: 1-93. complex is currently known only from Belize and Panama; associates with several sponge species, 0.5-10 m (Hultgren and Brandt, 2015Hultgren, K.M. and Brandt, A. 2015. Taxonomy and phylogenetics of the Synalpheus paraneptunus-species-complex (Decapoda: Alpheidae) with a description of two new species. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 35: 547-558.).

Synalpheus antillensis Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 16 [Isla Grande; La Guiara]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, in coral rubble, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-087.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from coral reefs off Texas southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including the entire Caribbean Sea and some oceanic islands of Brazil (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.; 2016Anker, A.; Tavares, M. and Mendonça, J.B. 2016. Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. Zootaxa , 4138: 1-58. ); in crevices of dead corals, coralline algae etc., 1-42 m. The distributional record for Bocas del Toro, Panama, in Anker et al. (2012)Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96. refers to the above sample.

Synalpheus apioceros Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 200 [Caribbean Panama, as S. apiocerus, lap. cal.]; Abele and Kim, 1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.: 15 [Gatun Locks]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 21 [Bocas del Toro]; Rebolledo et al., 2014Rebolledo, A.P.; Wehrtmann, I.S.; Felder, D.L. and Mantelatto, F.L. 2014. Embryo production in the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus apioceros (Decapoda, Alpheidae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama. Zookeys, 457: 227-238.: 227 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from Florida southwards to Santa Catarina, Brazil; found in a variety of rocky and coral reef habitats, 0-20 m. The species is morphologically variable and may comprise a species complex (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.).

Synalpheus barahonensis Armstrong, 1949

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Rare species, known only from the original description based on material from the Dominican Republic (Armstrong, 1941Armstrong, J.C. 1941. The Caridea and Stomatopod of the second Templeton Crocker-American Museum expedition to the Pacific Ocean. American Museum Novitates, 1137: 1-14. ) and the above record from San Blas Islands (Panama), which requires confirmation. Associated with sponges; depth range unknown.

Synalpheus bocas Anker and Tóth, 2008

Previous records.Tóth and Bauer, 2008Tóth, E. and Bauer, R.T. 2008. Synalpheus paraneptunus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) populations with intersex gonopores: a sexual enigma among sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, 51: 49-59. : 51 [Bocas del Toro; as S. paraneptunus A]; Anker and Tóth, 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.: 17 [Bocas del Toro]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. This species is currently known only from the western Caribbean Sea, with records from Panama, Curaçao and Jamaica (Macdonald et al., 2009MacDonald, K.S. III; Hultgren, K. and Duffy, J.E. 2009. The sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae, Synalpheus) of Discovery Bay, Jamaica, with descriptions of four new species. Zootaxa , 2199: 1-57.); associated with sponges of the genus Xestospongia de Laubenfels, 1932, 0.5-15 m.

Synalpheus bousfieldi Chace, 1972

Previous records.Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 24 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas southwards to Bahia, Brazil (Macdonald et al., 2009MacDonald, K.S. III; Hultgren, K. and Duffy, J.E. 2009. The sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae, Synalpheus) of Discovery Bay, Jamaica, with descriptions of four new species. Zootaxa , 2199: 1-57.); inhabiting a variety of sponges at depths of 5-20 m.

Synalpheus brevicarpus Herrick, 1891 sensu lato

Previous records. Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point, as S. brevidactylus, lap. cal.]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands, as Synalpheus sp. D (near brevicarpus)]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas Islands; not Isla Bartolomé, see below].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 7 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, in Xestospongia rosariensis Zea and Rützler, 1983, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-077; 1 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, in Ircinia strobilina (Lamarck, 1816), 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-080; 2 spec., Isla San Cristobal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°17.342’N 082°15.384’W, in Mycale (Arenochalina) laxissima (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864), 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-078.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, however, comprised of several genetically, morphologically and chromatically distinct species (Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.), of which several are present in Panama. The record of S. brevicarpus from Isla Bartolomé in the Las Perlas Archipelago, on the Pacific side of Panama (Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.), most likely refers to one of the three cryptic species in the Synalpheus diguetiCoutière, 1909Coutière, H. 1909. The American species of snapping shrimps of the genus Synalpheus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36: 1-93. complex (see Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.).

Synalpheus brevidactylus Anker and Tóth, 2008

Previous records.Anker and Tóth, 2008Tóth, E. and Bauer, R.T. 2008. Synalpheus paraneptunus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) populations with intersex gonopores: a sexual enigma among sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, 51: 49-59. : 14 [Isla Grande; Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Only known from the original description; pair living in crevice-boring sponges, 1-3 m. The validity of this species needs to be confirmed by a molecular analysis.

Synalpheus brevifrons Chace, 1972

Previous records.Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 13 [?San Blas Islands, as Zuzalpheus brevifrons].

Remarks. The presence of S. brevifrons in Panama requires confirmation. Ríos and Duffy (2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.) first stated that this species is possibly present in San Blas Islands, but after having provided some details about the single ovigerous female from San Blas, the authors concluded that it may represent “yet another undescribed species”. Otherwise S. brevifrons is known only from the Dominican Republic and Belize (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.), where it associates with the sponge Aiolochroia crassa (Hyatt, 1875) at depths of 1-15 m.

Synalpheus brooksi Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Duffy, 1993: 461 [San Blas Islands]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 574 [San Blas Islands; as S. brooksi A]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 15 [San Blas, as Zuzalpheus brooksi]; Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Bocas del Toro]; Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Caribbean Panama; as S. cf. brooksi]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 26 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from Florida southwards to Bahia, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and parts of the Gulf of Mexico (possibly a species complex) (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in subsocial groups in a variety of sponges; 1-73 m, most abundant shallower than 10 m.

Synalpheus carpenteri Macdonald and Duffy, 2006

Previous records.Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas Islands; as Synalpheus bousfieldi A]; Macdonald and Duffy, 2006Macdonald, K.S.III and Duffy, J.E. 2006. Two new species of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from the Belizean Barrier Reef, with a synopsis of the Synalpheus brooksi species complex. American Museum Novitates , 3543: 1-22.: 3 [San Blas Islands]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 16 [San Blas Islands, as Zuzalpheus carpenteri (Macdonald and Duffy, 2006Macdonald, K.S.III and Duffy, J.E. 2006. Two new species of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from the Belizean Barrier Reef, with a synopsis of the Synalpheus brooksi species complex. American Museum Novitates , 3543: 1-22.)]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Known from Belize, Panama, Jamaica, St Martin and the Bahamas (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); in male-female pairs or small subsocial groups in sponges of the genus Agelas, 10-20 m.

Synalpheus chacei Duffy, 1998

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands, as S. bousfieldiChace, 1972Chace, F.A. Jr. 1972. The shrimps of the Smithsonian-Bredin Caribbean expeditions with a summary of the West Indian shallow-water species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Natantia). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology , 98: 1-179.]; Duffy, 1998: 389 [San Blas Islands]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 43 [Caribbean Panama, as Zuzalpheus chacei]; Hernáez et al., 2010Hernáez, P.; Martínez-Guerrero, B.; Anker, A. and Wehrtmann, I.S. 2010. Fecundity and effects of bopyrid infestation on egg production in the Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus yano (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , 90: 691-698.: 694 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 33 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. many spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, from Xestospongia rosariensis, leg. B. Martínez-Guerrero, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-124.

Remarks. Presently known only from Belize, Panama and the British Virgin Islands (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in eusocial groups of up to 80 individuals (queen, king(s), and numerous colony members) in a variety of sponges, 2-20 m.

Synalpheus dardeaui(Ríos and Duffy, 2007)

Previous records.Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 574 [Limones, as “pandionis giant”]; Hultgren et al., 2010Hultgren, K.M.; MacDonald, K.S.II. and Duffy, J.E. 2010. Sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps of Curaçao, with descriptions of three new species. Zootaxa, 2372: 221-262.: 225 [Panama]; McGrew and Hultgren, 2011McGrew, M. and Hultgren, K.M. 2011. Bopyrid parasite infestation affects activity levels and morphology of the eusocial snapping shrimp Synalpheus elizabethae. Marine Ecology Progress Series , 431: 195-204.: 196 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 34 [Bocas del Toro]; Hultgren, 2014Hultgren, K.M. 2014. Variable effects of symbiotic snapping shrimps on their sponge hosts. Marine Biology , 161: 1217-1227.: 1222 [Bocas del Toro]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. One of the largest sponge-dwelling species of Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888; known with certainty from Belize, Panama, Curaçao, Florida and Bahia, Brazil (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically in male-female pairs in a variety of sponges, 1-65 m.

Synalpheus disparodigitus Armstrong, 1949

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Only known from a few records from the Dominican Republic, Grenadines, Venezuela and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); ecology poorly known, apparently free-living in crevices of coral rocks in shallow water.

Synalpheus dominicensis Armstrong, 1949

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 37 [Isla Grande].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded in the western Atlantic from the Bahamas and southwestern Gulf of Mexico to the Dominican Republic and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically in female-male pairs on rock or coral crevices, at depths of 0-14 m.

Synalpheus duffyi Anker and Tóth, 2008

Previous records.Tóth and Bauer, 2008Tóth, E. and Bauer, R.T. 2008. Synalpheus paraneptunus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) populations with intersex gonopores: a sexual enigma among sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, 51: 49-59. : 51 [Isla Grande; as S. paraneptunus “small”]; Anker and Tóth, 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.: 7 [Isla Grande; La Guaira].

Remarks. Known with certainty only from Panama and Jamaica, possibly also occurs in the Florida Keys (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in eusocial groups composed of a queen, one or several kings and up to 80 colony members, in a variety of sponges, 0-2 m.

Synalpheus elizabethae(Ríos and Duffy, 2007)

Previous records.Duffy, 1996Duffy, J.E. 1996. Species boundaries, specialization, and the radiation of sponge-dwelling alpheid shrimp. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 58: 307-324.: 309 [San Blas Islands, as S. “rathbunae A”]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas, as S. “rathbunae A”]; Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Bocas del Toro]; McGrew and Hultgren, 2011McGrew, M. and Hultgren, K.M. 2011. Bopyrid parasite infestation affects activity levels and morphology of the eusocial snapping shrimp Synalpheus elizabethae. Marine Ecology Progress Series , 431: 195-204.: 196 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 39 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande]; Hultgren, 2014Hultgren, K.M. 2014. Variable effects of symbiotic snapping shrimps on their sponge hosts. Marine Biology , 161: 1217-1227.: 1222 [Bocas del Toro]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Uncommon in the western Atlantic, with scattered records from the Florida Keys and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico to Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in eusocial groups of up to several hundred colony members and one reproductive female (queen); associated with several sponge species, 0-18 m.

Synalpheus filidigitus Armstrong, 1949

Previous records.Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 40 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Known with certainty only from the Dominican Republic, Belize and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in eusocial groups of up to a few hundreds of colony members and one reproductive female; associated with several sponge species, 0-15 m.

Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas, not Isla Bartolomé, see below]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 41 [Isla Grande; Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. One of the most common and widely distributed species in the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Santa Catarina, Brazil, including the entire Caribbean Sea, and some isolated islands in the Central Atlantic (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.; 2016); lives in male-female pairs in a variety of microhabitats on coral reefs and rocky shore habitats, 0-51 m. The record of S. fritzmuelleri from Isla Bartolomé in the Las Perlas Archipelago, on the Pacific side of Panama (Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.), refers to a different eastern Pacific species, the identity of which remains to be determined.

Synalpheus goodei Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Coutière, 1909Coutière, H. 1909. The American species of snapping shrimps of the genus Synalpheus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36: 1-93.: 61 [near Colón]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 200 [Caribbean Panama]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Hultgren et al., 2010Hultgren, K.M.; MacDonald, K.S.II. and Duffy, J.E. 2010. Sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps of Curaçao, with descriptions of three new species. Zootaxa, 2372: 221-262.: 225, 230 [Isla San Cristóbal, Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 46 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Cristóbal, NW side, “Seagal”, 9.289° -82°296, leg. M. Leray et al., 27.05.2016, FLMNH UF 44521.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from Florida southwards to Tobago, and possibly further south to Brazil (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically found in male-female pairs in a variety of sponges, 1-20 m.

Synalpheus hemphilli Coutière, 1908

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 49 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina southwards to Bahia, Brazil, including Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.; 2016Anker, A.; Tavares, M. and Mendonça, J.B. 2016. Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. Zootaxa , 4138: 1-58. ); in male-female pairs, most often in tube sponges, 1-51 m.

Synalpheus herricki Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 10 spec., Isla San Cristóbal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°16.514’N 082°14.833’W, from Agelas cf. dispar Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864, 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-083; 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral, 09°15.028’N 082°07.897’W, in coral rubble, 4 m, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-082.

Remarks. Widely distributed but relatively uncommon western Atlantic species, ranging from southern Florida to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and further south to Ceará, Brazil (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in female-male pairs in a variety of sponges, 5-73 m.

Synalpheus hoetjesi Hultgren, Macdonald, and Duffy 2010

Previous records.Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 57 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro town, west of airport runway, 9.342° -82°260, leg. M. Leray et al., 19.05.2016, FLMNH UF 44363; 1 spec., Isla Cristóbal, NW side, off Punta Juan, 9.301° -82°294, leg. G. Paulay, 20.05.2016, FLMNH UF 44415.

Remarks. Relatively rarely encountered species, presently known only from Curaçao, Panama and Barbados (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically found in male-female pairs in several host sponge species, 1-6 m.

Synalpheus idios(Ríos and Duffy, 2007)

Previous records.Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas Islands; Synalpheus brooksi D]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 36 [San Blas, as Zuzalpheus idios]; Hernáez et al., 2010Hernáez, P.; Martínez-Guerrero, B.; Anker, A. and Wehrtmann, I.S. 2010. Fecundity and effects of bopyrid infestation on egg production in the Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus yano (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , 90: 691-698.: 694 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 57 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Relatively uncommon species, so far reported only from Belize, Panama, Curaçao, St. Martin and Barbados (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in small subsocial groups in a variety of sponges, 1-15 m.

Synalpheus kensleyi(Ríos and Duffy, 2007)

Previous records.Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 43 [Bocas del Toro, as Zuzalpheus kensleyi]; Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 59 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Morphologically distinctive, but rather uncommon species, presently known only from Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); lives in male-female pairs in sponges in shallow water, 1-2 m.

Synalpheus longicarpus (Herrick, 1891)

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 574 [San Blas]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 36 [San Blas Islands, as Zuzalpheus longicarpus]; Hultgren et al., 2010Hultgren, K.M.; MacDonald, K.S.II. and Duffy, J.E. 2010. Sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps of Curaçao, with descriptions of three new species. Zootaxa, 2372: 221-262.: 225 [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina southwards to Ceará, Brazil (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); associated with sponges, e.g. common in the loggerhead sponge Spheciospongia vesparium (Lamarck, 1815), 0-60 m.

Synalpheus mcclendoni Coutiere, 1910

Previous records.Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 574 [San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Uncommon species; known from the Florida Keys and a few scattered localities in the Caribbean Sea (e.g. Venezuela, Panama) and the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); associated with sponges, 0-23 m.

Synalpheus minus (Say, 1818)

Previous records. (?) Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; (?) Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; (?) Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas Islands]; Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.: Suppl. [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Some of the Panamanian records of S. minus may refer to S. antillensis, S. brevicarpus or another taxon from the S. brevicarpus - minus species complex (see Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.). The exact distribution range of S. minus is poorly known, but the species is known with certainty from the south-eastern USA, several localities in the Caribbean Sea and Brazil (under Synalpheus minus bahiensisCoutière, 1909Coutière, H. 1909. The American species of snapping shrimps of the genus Synalpheus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36: 1-93.) (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.; 2016Anker, A.; Tavares, M. and Mendonça, J.B. 2016. Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. Zootaxa , 4138: 1-58. ).

Synalpheus pandionis Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 198 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 55 [San Blas, as Zuzalpheus pandionis]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 59 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, sea grass bed, leg. A. Anker, 02.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-099; 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, in sponge, leg. J.F. Lazarus, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-136; 1 spec. Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, sea grass bed, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-026.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, ranging from Florida southwards to northern Brazil, including numerous localities in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); earlier records may refer to related taxa; lives in male-female pairs in several species of sponges, 0-80 m.

Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 574 [Portobelo]; Duffy, 2003: 229 [Caribbean Panama]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 57 [San Blas, as Zuzalpheus paraneptunus].

Remarks. Synalpheus paraneptunus is with certainty only known from the holotype from the Gulf of Morrosquillo, Colombia (Anker and Tóth, 2008Tóth, E. and Bauer, R.T. 2008. Synalpheus paraneptunus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) populations with intersex gonopores: a sexual enigma among sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, 51: 49-59. ; under material examined therein, “Panama” should be substituted by Colombia). All the above records from Panama, as well as those listed in Table I in Anker et al. (2012)Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96., need confirmation as they most likely refer to other species in the S. paraneptunus complex.

Synalpheus pectiniger Coutière, 1907

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas]; Duffy, 1993Duffy, J.E. 1993. Genetic population structure in two tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps that differ in dispersal potential. Marine Biology , 116: 459-470.: 461 [San Blas Islands]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 57 [San Blas Islands, as Zuzalpheus pectiniger]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 64 [Western Atlantic: Panama].

Remarks. Morphologically distinctive species, sparsely recorded from Florida southwards to Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); associated with the loggerhead sponge S. vesparium, where it lives in male-female pairs, 0-52 m.

Synalpheus rathbunae Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Duffy, 1996Duffy, J.E. 1996. Species boundaries, specialization, and the radiation of sponge-dwelling alpheid shrimp. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 58: 307-324.: 309 [San Blas Islands; as S. rathbunae B]; Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581.: 575 [San Blas Islands]; Tóth and Bauer, 2007Tóth, E. and Bauer, R.T. 2007. Gonopore sexing technique allows determination of sex ratios and helper composition in eusocial shrimps. Marine Biology , 151: 1875-1886.: 1877 [Bocas del Toro]; Tóth and Duffy, 2005Tóth, E. and Duffy, J.E. 2005. Coordinated group response to nest intruders in social shrimp. Biology Letters, 1: 49-52.: 49 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 65 [Panama].

Remarks. A rather uncommon Caribbean species, known with certainty only from the Lesser Antilles (St. Thomas, St. Martin, Guadeloupe) and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.), although likely more widespread in the region; lives in small eusocial groups in cryptic sponges, 10-55 m.

Synalpheus regalis Duffy, 1996

Previous records.Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 65 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Presently known from Belize, Jamaica and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); eusocial sponge-dwelling species, living in groups of up to several hundreds of individuals, including usually one reproductive female (queen), unknown number of reproductive males (possibly only one), and numerous non-reproductive colony members; typically below 6 m depth.

Synalpheus ruetzleri Macdonald and Duffy, 2006

Previous records.Macdonald and Duffy, 2006Macdonald, K.S.III and Duffy, J.E. 2006. Two new species of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from the Belizean Barrier Reef, with a synopsis of the Synalpheus brooksi species complex. American Museum Novitates , 3543: 1-22.: 8 [San Blas Islands]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 62 [San Blas, as Zuzalpheus ruetzleri]; Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.: 356 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Uncommon species presently known only from Belize and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); usually as male-female pairs in various sponges, mainly Hymeniacidon cf. caerulea Pulitzer-Finali, 1986, in very shallow water.

Synalpheus sanctithomae Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 63 [Panama, as Zuzalpheus sanctithomae].

Remarks. Morphologically distinctive western Atlantic species, sparsely recorded from the Florida Keys southwards to seamounts off Rio de Janeiro and Trindade Island, Brazil (Anker et al., 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ); apparently pair-living, obligate symbiont of several sponge species; depth range 1-20 m.

Synalpheus scaphoceris Coutière, 1910

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Hernáez et al., 2010Hernáez, P.; Martínez-Guerrero, B.; Anker, A. and Wehrtmann, I.S. 2010. Fecundity and effects of bopyrid infestation on egg production in the Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus yano (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , 90: 691-698.: 694 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 66 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic: common in the Florida Keys, Caribbean Sea and parts of the Gulf of Mexico, extending to São Paulo, Brazil (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); typically in male-female pairs in coral rock crevices, 0-30 m.

Synalpheus townsendi Coutière, 1909

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 200 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 24 [Galeta Point]; Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 70 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Remarks. One of the most common and widespread species of Synalpheus in the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina southwards to Rio de Janeiro and Trindade Island, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.; 2016Anker, A.; Tavares, M. and Mendonça, J.B. 2016. Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. Zootaxa , 4138: 1-58. ); typically found in female-male pairs in a variety of microhabitats, including coral rocks crevices, calcareous algae and sponges, 0-102 m.

Synalpheus ul(Ríos and Duffy, 2007)

Previous records.Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 63 [San Blas Islands: Porvenir and Aguadargana Islands, as Zuzalpheus ul]; Hultgren et al., 2010Hultgren, K.M.; MacDonald, K.S.II. and Duffy, J.E. 2010. Sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps of Curaçao, with descriptions of three new species. Zootaxa, 2372: 221-262.: 225, 250 [Bocas del Toro]; Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.: 72 [Bocas del Toro; Isla Grande].

Remarks. Relatively common western Atlantic species recorded from Belize southwards to Bahia, Brazil, including Panama and several other localities in the Caribbean Sea (Almeida et al., 2012Almeida, A.O.; Boehs, G.; Araújo-Silva, C.L. and Bezerra, L.E.O. 2012. Shallow-water caridean shrimps from southern Bahia, Brazil, including the first record of Synalpheus ul (Ríos and Duffy, 2007) (Alpheidae) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa , 3347: 1-35.); typically found in male-female pairs in a variety of sponge hosts, 1-3 m.

Synalpheus yano(Ríos and Duffy, 2007)

Previous records.Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 74 [Bocas del Toro, as Zuzalpheus yano]; Hernáez et al., 2010Hernáez, P.; Martínez-Guerrero, B.; Anker, A. and Wehrtmann, I.S. 2010. Fecundity and effects of bopyrid infestation on egg production in the Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Synalpheus yano (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , 90: 691-698.: 692 [Bocas del Toro]; McGrew and Hultgren, 2011McGrew, M. and Hultgren, K.M. 2011. Bopyrid parasite infestation affects activity levels and morphology of the eusocial snapping shrimp Synalpheus elizabethae. Marine Ecology Progress Series , 431: 195-204.: 196 [Bocas del Toro]; Hultgren, 2014Hultgren, K.M. 2014. Variable effects of symbiotic snapping shrimps on their sponge hosts. Marine Biology , 161: 1217-1227.: 1222 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Relatively common western Atlantic species recorded from western Florida and the southern Gulf of Mexico (Alacranes Reef) southwards to Ceará, Brazil, including Caribbean Sea (Belize, Jamaica, Panama) (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.; 2016Anker, A.; Tavares, M. and Mendonça, J.B. 2016. Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. Zootaxa , 4138: 1-58. ); pair-living sponge-associated species, 1-3 m.

Synalpheus williamsi Ríos and Duffy, 1999

Previous records.Ríos and Duffy, 1999Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 1999. Description of Synalpheus williamsi, a new species of sponge-dwelling shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with remarks on its first larval stage. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington , 112: 541-552.: 542 [San Blas Islands]; Ríos and Duffy, 2007Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2007. A review of the sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, with description of Zuzalpheus, new genus, and six new species. Zootaxa , 160: 1-89.: 68 [San Blas, as Zuzalpheus williamsi].

Remarks. Rare species, so far recorded only from Belize, Jamaica, Curaçao and Panama (Anker et al., 2012Anker, A.; Pachelle, P. P. G.; De Grave, S. and Hultgren, K. M. 2012. Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3598: 1-96.); obligate symbiont of the sponge H. caerulea and possibly other sponges, in shallow to moderately deep water (less than 20 m).

Triacanthoneus toro Anker, 2010

Previous records.Anker, 2010bAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.: 49 [Bocas del Toro]

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), 0.5 m, in burrow in fine sand, suction pump, leg. A. Anker et al., 28.04.2005, MZUSP 33675; 1 spec., NW side of Isla Popa, 0.5-2 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 30.04.2015, MZUSP 33674.

Remarks. Presently known only from the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in Panama (Anker, 2010bAnker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.); under coral rubble on sandy substrate, sometimes in burrows, 1-7 m.

Family Anchistioididae Paulson, 1875

Anchistioides antiguensis (Schmitt, 1924)

(Fig. 1C)

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 4 spec., Isla San Cristóbal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°17.342’N 082°15.384’W, in osculum of Mycale (Arenochalina) laxissima, 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-018; 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.113’W, in osculum of Niphates erecta (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864), 15 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-020; 1 spec., same locality, in osculum of M. (A.) laxissima, 10 m, leg. S. De Grave, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-019; 1 spec., Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), 09°15.028’N 082°07.897’W, inside unidentified sponge, 10 m, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-021; 4 spec., Almirante, in Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) colombiensis Zea and van Soest, 1986, leg. E. Tóth, 04.01.2007Tóth, E. and Bauer, R.T. 2007. Gonopore sexing technique allows determination of sex ratios and helper composition in eusocial shrimps. Marine Biology , 151: 1875-1886., OUMNH.ZC.2007-14-01.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic, from Bermuda southwards to Espírito Santo, Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.), with the present material representing new record for Panama. Although A. antiguensis has been recorded in older literature from a variety of habitats from the intertidal down to 118 m (summarised in Williams, 1984Williams, A.B. 1984. Shrimps, lobsters, and crabs of the Atlantic coast of the eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Washington D.C., Smithsonian Institution Press, 550p.); all recent records, including the present ones, are based on specimens found in the oscula of larger sponges, suggesting that the species might be at least a facultative sponge associate.

Family Hippolytidae Spence Bate, 1888

Hippolyte nicholsoni Chace, 1972

Previous records.Fransen and Almeida, 2009Fransen, C.H.J.M. and Almeida, A.O. 2009. Neopontonides brucei, a new pontoniine shrimp species from Brazilian waters (Decapoda, Palaemonidae). Crustaceana , 82: 837-846.: 845 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), 09°14.502’N 082°08.288’W, on gorgonian, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-046.

Remarks. Common Caribbean species, ranging from the British Virgin Islands to Panama (d’Udekem d’Acoz, 2007d’Udekem d’Acoz, C. 2007. New records of Atlantic Hippolyte, with the description of two new species, and a key to all Atlantic and Mediterranean species (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea). Zoosystema , 29: 183-207.); usually associated with the sea plume, Antillogorgia americana (Gmelin, 1791), 1-12 m.

Hippolyte obliquimanus Dana, 1852

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef, as Hippolyte curacaoensis Schmitt, 1924]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point, as H. curacaoensis]; Terossi and Mantelatto, 2012Terossi, M. and Mantelatto, F.L. 2012. Morphological and genetic variability in Hippolyte obliquimanus Dana, 1852 (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from Brazil and the Caribbean Sea. Crustaceana , 85: 685-712.: 688 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 5 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, NE of Lime Point, 09°24.954’N 082°19.757’W, from sea grass bed, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2005, OUMNH. ZC.2005-10-069; many spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-071; same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-072; many spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-073; 5 spec., Isla Carenero, 09°20.775’N 082°13.667’W, mixed algal wash, 6 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-070; 2 spec., Isla Carenero, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, on Sargassum sp., 0.5 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-043; 5 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, muddy sea grass bed, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-044; 5 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, sea grass bed, leg. A. Anker, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-045.

Remarks. Common and widely distributed western Atlantic species, ranging from North Carolina southwards to Santa Catarina, Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); on a variety of substrates, but most frequently living on algae and sea grass, 0-10 m.

Hippolyte zostericola (Smith, 1873)

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. Many spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, in sea grass bed, 1 m, leg. S. LeCroy, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-065; many spec., same location, leg. S. De Grave, 01.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-067; many spec., same location, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-062; 5 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, NE of Lime Point, 09°24.954’N 082°19.757’W, in red algae, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 09.08.20005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-068; 3 spec., Isla Colón, Big Bight entrance, in sea grass bed (Thalassia sp.) adjacent to red mangroves, 1 m, leg. S. LeCroy, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-064; 3 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-063; 1 spec., Isla San Cristobal, Boca Torito, in red algae on mangrove prop roots, 0.2 m, leg. S. LeCroy, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.2005-10-066; 1 spec., same location, in Halimeda clumps in Thalassia bed next to red mangrove stand, mud bottom, 0.5 m, leg. S. LeCroy, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-095.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic, ranging from Bermuda and Massachusetts southwards to Ceara, Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); Wicksten’s (1989Wicksten, M.K. 1989. Hippolyte zostericola (Crustacea: Decapoda) in the Eastern Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington , 102: 644-645.) record from the Pacific coast of Colombia is highly doubtful; typically associated with sea grass and algae, 0-5 m.

Latreutes fucorum (Fabricius, 1798)

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 200 [Caribbean Panama]; Heck and Weinstein, 1989Heck, K.L.Jr. and Weinstein, M.P. 1989. Feeding habits of juvenile reef fishes associated with Panamanian seagrass meadows. Bulletin of Marine Science , 45: 629-636.: 631 [Caribbean entrance to Panama Canal].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral, 09°13.433’N 082°06.180’W, in algae Dictyota sp., 1-2 m, leg. C. Ashelby, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-041; 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, in sea grass bed, less than 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 03.05.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-07; 2 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, NE of Lime Point, 09°24.954’N 082°19.757’W, in sea grass bed, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-023; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, in sea grass, 0.5-1m, leg. L. Harris, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-042; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago,, in sea grass bed, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-040.

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic ranging from southern Newfoundland to Bahia, Brazil (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); in sea grass beds or on floating algae, 0-2 m.

Latreutes parvulus (Stimpson, 1871)

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, on algae Macrorhyncha robusta (?) , 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-028; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-029; 2 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, NE of Lime Point, 09°24.954’N 082°19.757’W, in sea grass, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-031; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.2005-10-026; 2 spec., Isla Carenero, off eastern shore, 09°20.775’N 082°13.667’W, from mixed algal washings (Sargassum etc.), 6 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-030; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-024; 1 spec., same location, on soft coral Antillogorgia bipinnata (Verrill, 1864), 6 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-025; 1 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, on algae Spyridia hypnoides, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-027.

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic ranging from New Jersey southwards to Argentina (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.), with the present material being a new record for Panama; most frequently found in sea grass beds, but also occurs in a variety of other microhabitats, 0-44 m

Tozeuma carolinense Kingsley, 1878

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 198 [Caribbean Panama]; Heck and Weinstein, 1989Heck, K.L.Jr. and Weinstein, M.P. 1989. Feeding habits of juvenile reef fishes associated with Panamanian seagrass meadows. Bulletin of Marine Science , 45: 629-636.: 631 [Caribbean entrance to Panama Canal].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 6 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, intertidal and shallow subtidal sea grass flat, at night, leg. A. Anker, 05.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-051; 4 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, in sea grass, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 01.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-060; many spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, NE of Lime Point, 09°24.954’N 082°19.757’W, in sea grass, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-061; 7 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-059; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-058; many spec., same location, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-057.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic, ranging from Massachusetts southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); most common in sea grass beds and algal mats, 0-72 m.

Trachycaris rugosa (Spence Bate, 1888)

(Fig. 1F)

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. 1977. Comparative species richness, composition and abundance of invertebrates in Caribbean seagrass (Thalassa testudinum) meadows (Panamá). Marine Biology , 41: 335-348.: 338 [around Galeta Island, as Trachycaris restrictus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1878)]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama]; Heck and Weinstein, 1989Heck, K.L.Jr. and Weinstein, M.P. 1989. Feeding habits of juvenile reef fishes associated with Panamanian seagrass meadows. Bulletin of Marine Science , 45: 629-636.: 631 [Caribbean entrance to Panama Canal, as T. restrictus].

Material examined.Colón. 1 spec., near Portobelo, shallow subtidal flat with coral rubble, 0.5-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 26.03.2015, MZUSP 33787.

Remarks.Criales (1992Criales, M.M. 1992. Redescription of the hippolytid shrimp Trachycaris rugosa (Bate) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from the western Atlantic, with notes on sexual dimorphism. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 105: 562-570.) showed that T. restricta does not occur in the western Atlantic; therefore all records of T. restricta from Panama must be referred to T. rugosa. The species is known from South Carolina southward to Colombia, with scattered records throughout the Caribbean Sea and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.), 0-68 m.

Family Lysmatidae Dana, 1852

Lysmata ankeri Rhyne and Lin, 2006

Previous records.Abele and Kim, 1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.: 19 [Gatun Locks, as Lysmata. wurdemanni (Gibbes, 1850)]; Rhyne and Lin, 2006Rhyne, A.L. and Lin, J. 2006. A western Atlantic peppermint shrimp complex: Redescription of Lysmata wurdemanni, description of four new species, and remarks on Lysmata rathbunae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae). Bulletin of Marine Science , 79: 165-204.: 179 [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks.Rhyne and Lin (2006Rhyne, A.L. and Lin, J. 2006. A western Atlantic peppermint shrimp complex: Redescription of Lysmata wurdemanni, description of four new species, and remarks on Lysmata rathbunae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae). Bulletin of Marine Science , 79: 165-204.) referred part of the material of L. wurdemanni in Abele and Kim (1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.) to L. ankeri, however, without any further comments. The material in Abele and Kim (1989)Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50. included two specimens (1 male and 1 ovigerous female) collected from the lower western chamber of Gatun Locks. As neither specimen was discussed by Rhyne and Lin (2006)Rhyne, A.L. and Lin, J. 2006. A western Atlantic peppermint shrimp complex: Redescription of Lysmata wurdemanni, description of four new species, and remarks on Lysmata rathbunae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae). Bulletin of Marine Science , 79: 165-204., it is unclear which of them is L. ankeri. Based on the species’ wide occurrence in the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic, from southern Florida to São Paulo, Brazil (Rhyne and Lin, 2006Rhyne, A.L. and Lin, J. 2006. A western Atlantic peppermint shrimp complex: Redescription of Lysmata wurdemanni, description of four new species, and remarks on Lysmata rathbunae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae). Bulletin of Marine Science , 79: 165-204.), its occurrence in Panama is highly likely but does require confirmation.

Lysmata bahia Rhyne and Lin, 2006

Previous records.Baeza, 2008Baeza, J.A. and Anker, A. 2008. Lysmata hochi n. sp., a new hermaphroditic shrimp form the southwestern Caribbean Sea (Caridea: Hippolytidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology, 28: 148-155.: 182 [Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro]; Baeza et al., 2009Baeza, J.A.; Schubart, C.D.; Zillner, P.; Fuentes, S. and Bauer, R.T. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of shrimps from the genus Lysmata (Caridea: Hippolytidae): the evolutionary origins of protrandic simultaneous hermaphroditism and social monogamy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 96: 415-424.: 417 [Bocas del Toro]; Baeza, 2010Baeza, J.A. 2010. Molecular systematics of peppermint and cleaner shrimps: phylogeny and taxonomy of the genera Lysmata and Exhippolysmata (Crustacea: Caridea: Hippolytidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160: 254-265.: 257 [Bocas del Toro]; Fiedler et al., 2010Fiedler, G.C.; Rhyne, A.L.; Segawa, R.; Aotsuka, T. and Schizas, N.V. 2010. The evolution of euhermaphroditism in caridean shrimps: a molecular perspective of sexual systems and systematics. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10: e297.: 3 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, between STRI station and Playa Bluff, fossil reef terrace, intertidal, at night, leg. A. Baeza, 2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-06-003; 1 spec. same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2009-06-008.

Remarks. Curiously, L. bahia is presently only known from Panama and several Brazilian states (Ceará, Sergipe Bahia, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) (Barros-Alves et al., 2015Barros-Alves, S.P.; Alves, D.F.R.; Silva, S.L.R.; Guimarães, C.R.P. and Hirose, G.L. 2015. New records of decapod crustaceans from the coast of Sergipe state, Brazil. Check List , 11: 1768. ); on rocky bottoms and in tide pools, 0-25 m.

Lysmata hochi Baeza and Anker, 2008

Previous records. Baeza and Anker, 2008Baeza, J.A. and Anker, A. 2008. Lysmata hochi n. sp., a new hermaphroditic shrimp form the southwestern Caribbean Sea (Caridea: Hippolytidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology, 28: 148-155.: 149 [Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, at night, leg. A. Anker, 05.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH. ZC.2008-14-049.

Remarks. Currently only known from Panama (Bocas del Toro) and Florida (Long Key) (Baeza, 2010Baeza, J.A. 2010. Molecular systematics of peppermint and cleaner shrimps: phylogeny and taxonomy of the genera Lysmata and Exhippolysmata (Crustacea: Caridea: Hippolytidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160: 254-265.); on rocky shores in very shallow water, 0-1 m.

Lysmata intermedia (Kingsley, 1878)

Previous records. (?) Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 137 [Galeta reef]; (?) Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point]; (?) Abele and Kim, 1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.: 19 [Gatun Locks]; (?) Baeza, 2008Baeza, J.A. and Anker, A. 2008. Lysmata hochi n. sp., a new hermaphroditic shrimp form the southwestern Caribbean Sea (Caridea: Hippolytidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology, 28: 148-155.: 182 [Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro]; (?) Baeza et al., 2009Baeza, J.A.; Schubart, C.D.; Zillner, P.; Fuentes, S. and Bauer, R.T. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of shrimps from the genus Lysmata (Caridea: Hippolytidae): the evolutionary origins of protrandic simultaneous hermaphroditism and social monogamy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 96: 415-424.: 417 [Bocas del Toro]; (?) Baeza, 2010Baeza, J.A. 2010. Molecular systematics of peppermint and cleaner shrimps: phylogeny and taxonomy of the genera Lysmata and Exhippolysmata (Crustacea: Caridea: Hippolytidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160: 254-265.: 257 [Bocas del Toro]; (?) Fiedler et al., 2010Fiedler, G.C.; Rhyne, A.L.; Segawa, R.; Aotsuka, T. and Schizas, N.V. 2010. The evolution of euhermaphroditism in caridean shrimps: a molecular perspective of sexual systems and systematics. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10: e297.: 3 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 3 spec., Isla Bastimentos, off Salt Creek, coral rubble on sea grass flat, 1-1.2 m, leg. A. Anker, 31.03.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2012-01-007; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2012-01-008.

Remarks. Although the exact distribution of L. intermedia is unclear due to confusion with the recently described Lysmata jundaliniRhyne, Calado and dos Santos, 2012Rhyne, A.L.; Calado, R. and dos Santos, A. 2012. Lysmata jundalini, a new peppermint shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from the Western Atlantic. Zootaxa , 3579: 71-79. (see below), the species seems to be relatively widespread in the western Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil (Pachelle et al., 2016Pachelle, P.P G.; Anker, A.; Mendes, C.B. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2016. Decapod crustaceans from the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil: an updated checklist of marine and estuarine species, with 23 new records. Zootaxa, 4131: 1-63. ); typically on rocky and rubble-algal bottoms, 0-22 m. The herein examined specimens were assigned to L. intermedia on the basis of their colour pattern and some morphological characteristics listed in Rhyne et al. (2012)Rhyne, A.L.; Calado, R. and dos Santos, A. 2012. Lysmata jundalini, a new peppermint shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from the Western Atlantic. Zootaxa , 3579: 71-79., although the distinction between preserved L. intermedia and L. jundalini specimens is extremely difficult as most diagnostic characters overlap and are ambiguous. All previous records of L. intermedia from Panama cannot be confirmed at this stage as they could refer to either species.

Lysmata jundalini Rhyne, Calado and dos Santos, 2012

Previous records.Rhyne et al., 2012Rhyne, A.L.; Calado, R. and dos Santos, A. 2012. Lysmata jundalini, a new peppermint shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from the Western Atlantic. Zootaxa , 3579: 71-79.: 77 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. Many spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), in old conch shells, leg. C. Tavares, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-134; 2 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), near restaurant, 09°14.502’N 082°08.288’W, under rocks and coral rubble, 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-054; 5 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), inside eroded conch shells, less than 0.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 19.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2012-07-007; 1 spec., Isla San Cristobal, Punta Coco, under rocks and coral rubble, 1-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 29.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-045; 1 spec., Isla Colón, between STRI station and Playa Bluff, fossil reef terrace, intertidal, leg. A. Baeza, 2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-06-004.

Remarks. Currently known only from Puerto Rico, Mexico (Alacranes Reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico) and Panama (Bocas del Toro) (Rhyne et al., 2012Rhyne, A.L.; Calado, R. and dos Santos, A. 2012. Lysmata jundalini, a new peppermint shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from the Western Atlantic. Zootaxa , 3579: 71-79.); on mixed rubble-algal substrates near reefs and sea grass, in old conch shells etc., 0-2 m. The unsubstantiated record from the Caribbean Panama in Rhyne et al. (2012)Rhyne, A.L.; Calado, R. and dos Santos, A. 2012. Lysmata jundalini, a new peppermint shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from the Western Atlantic. Zootaxa , 3579: 71-79. is based on the herein examined specimens.

Lysmata moorei Rathbun, 1906

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Baeza et al., 2009Baeza, J.A.; Schubart, C.D.; Zillner, P.; Fuentes, S. and Bauer, R.T. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of shrimps from the genus Lysmata (Caridea: Hippolytidae): the evolutionary origins of protrandic simultaneous hermaphroditism and social monogamy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 96: 415-424.: 417 [Galeta]; Baeza, 2010Baeza, J.A. 2010. Molecular systematics of peppermint and cleaner shrimps: phylogeny and taxonomy of the genera Lysmata and Exhippolysmata (Crustacea: Caridea: Hippolytidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160: 254-265.: 257 [Galeta]; Fielder et al., 2010Fiedler, G.C.; Rhyne, A.L.; Segawa, R.; Aotsuka, T. and Schizas, N.V. 2010. The evolution of euhermaphroditism in caridean shrimps: a molecular perspective of sexual systems and systematics. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10: e297.: 4 [Galeta].

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic sparsely recorded from Bermuda southwards to Paraíba, Brazil (Anker and Cox, 2011Anker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.); rocky shores and other hard bottom and reef habitats, in shallow water (0-5 m).

Family Merguiidae Christoffersen, 1990

Merguia rhizophorae (Rathbun, 1900)

Previous records.Abele, 1970Abele, L.G. 1970. Semi-terrestrial shrimp (Merguia rhizophorae). Nature, 226: 661-662.: 661 [mangrove area on the Atlantic coast of Panama]; Abele, 1972aAbele, L.G. 1972a. Comparative habitat diversity and faunal relationships between the Pacific and Caribbean Panamanian decapod Crustacea: A preliminary report, with some remarks on the crustacean fauna of Panama. Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington, 2: 125-138.: 132 [Caribbean Panama]; Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 268 [around Colón]; Gilchrist et al., 1983Gilchrist, S.L.; Scotto, L.E. and Gore, R.H. 1983. Early zoeal stages of the semiterrestrial shrimp Merguia rhizophorae (Rathbun, 1900) cultured under laboratory conditions (Decapoda, Natantia, Hippolytidae) with a discussion of characters in the larval genus Eretmocaris. Crustaceana, 45: 238-259.: 239 [Galeta Island]; Baeza et al., 2009Baeza, J.A.; Schubart, C.D.; Zillner, P.; Fuentes, S. and Bauer, R.T. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of shrimps from the genus Lysmata (Caridea: Hippolytidae): the evolutionary origins of protrandic simultaneous hermaphroditism and social monogamy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 96: 415-424.: 417 [Bocas del Toro]; Baeza, 2010Baeza, J.A. 2010. Molecular systematics of peppermint and cleaner shrimps: phylogeny and taxonomy of the genera Lysmata and Exhippolysmata (Crustacea: Caridea: Hippolytidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160: 254-265.: 257 [Bocas del Toro]; Fiedler et al., 2010Fiedler, G.C.; Rhyne, A.L.; Segawa, R.; Aotsuka, T. and Schizas, N.V. 2010. The evolution of euhermaphroditism in caridean shrimps: a molecular perspective of sexual systems and systematics. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10: e297.: 4 [Bocas del Toro]

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 2 spec., Isla Colón, between STRI station and Playa Bluff, fossil coral terrace, intertidal, at night, leg. A. Baeza, 2007; OUMNH.ZC.2009-06-005; 2 spec., same location, leg. A. Baeza, 2008Baeza, J.A. 2008. Protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism in the shrimps Lysmata bahia and Lysmata intermedia. Invertebrate Biology, 127(2): 181-188., OUMNH.ZC.2010-04-022.

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic sparsely recorded from Panama southwards to Bahia, Brazil (Almeida et al., 2012Almeida, A.O.; Boehs, G.; Araújo-Silva, C.L. and Bezerra, L.E.O. 2012. Shallow-water caridean shrimps from southern Bahia, Brazil, including the first record of Synalpheus ul (Ríos and Duffy, 2007) (Alpheidae) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa , 3347: 1-35.); typically around driftwood and between prop roots in supratidal mangrove areas, semi-terrestrial.

Family Ogyrididae Holthuis, 1955

Ogyrides alphaerostris (Kingsley, 1880)

Material examined.Colón. 5 spec., Isla Largo, Remo, leg. unknown, 2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-004.

Remarks. Western Atlantic, from Virginia southwards to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Almeida et al., 2013Almeida, A.O.; Costa-Souza, A.C.; Cunha, A.M.; Santos, P.S.; Oliviera, M.V. and Soledade, G.O. 2013. Estuarine caridean shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) from Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil: Updated checklist and a key for their identification. Check List, 9: 1396-1405.); on a variety of soft sediments, 0-52 m. The present specimens are the first record for Panama.

Family Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815

Ancylomenes pedersoni (Chace, 1958)

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 4 spec., Isla San Cristobal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°16.514’N 082°14.833’W, on sea anemone Lebrunia neglecta (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1860), 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-048; 2 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, 15 m, leg. S. De Grave, 08.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-047; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-050; 2 spec., Bahía Almirante, off Isla Colón, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-049.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina southwards to Espírito Santo, Brazil (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); usually associated with sea anemones between 1 and 40 m; well known as fish cleaner. The present specimens constitute the first record of A. pedersoni for Panama.

Ascidonia miserabilis(Holthuis, 1951)

Previous records.Pachelle et al., 2012Pachelle, P.P.G.; Paiva, S.V., Oliveira Filho, R.R. and Anker, A. 2012. The ascidian-associated shrimp Ascidonia miserabilis (Caridea: Palaemonidae): first record for Brazil and additional records for the Caribbean Sea. Marine Biodiversity Records , 5: e83. : 2 [San Blas Islands].

Remarks. Rarely recorded species, with just a few records in the western Atlantic, ranging from the Flower Garden Banks, Texas, southwards to Atol das Rocas, Brazil (Pachelle et al., 2012Pachelle, P.P.G.; Paiva, S.V., Oliveira Filho, R.R. and Anker, A. 2012. The ascidian-associated shrimp Ascidonia miserabilis (Caridea: Palaemonidae): first record for Brazil and additional records for the Caribbean Sea. Marine Biodiversity Records , 5: e83. ); associated with solitary ascidians, 0-30 m.

Brachycarpus biunguiculatus (Lucas, 1846)

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082.°13.113’W, on sponge, 10 m, leg. S. De Grave, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-022; 1 spec., Isla Grande, leg. A. Anker, 2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528., OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-016; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.924’N 082°19.824’W, inside eroded conch, leg. A. Anker, 10.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-038; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, under ledge, 1 m, leg. J.F. Lazarus, 08.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-068.

Remarks. Pantropical taxon, also occurring in temperate regions such as the Mediterranean Sea; in the western Atlantic recorded from North Carolina southwards to Espírito Santo, Brazil (Ferreira et al., 2010Ferreira, R.S.; Vieira, R.R.R. and D’Incao, F. 2010. The marine and estuarine shrimps of the Palaemoninae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil. Zootaxa , 2606: 1-24. ); found in a wide variety of habitats, from the intertidal to just over 100 m.

Cuapetes americanus (Kingsley, 1878)

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 135 [Galeta reef, as Periclimenes americanus]; Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island, as P. americanus]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 198 [Caribbean Panama, as P. americanus]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point, as P. americanus].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Carenero, Buccaneer, from burrows, 0.5-1.0 m, leg. A. Anker and A. Baeza, 14.10.2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528., OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-009; 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, in Halimeda clumps, depth: 4 m, leg. S. De Grave, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-046; 3 spec., Isla Colón, STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, sledge over sea grass bed, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-032; 3 spec., Isla Colón, STRI Point, 09°20.927’N 082°15.808’W, coral rubble, 17 m, leg. S. De Grave, 10.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-039; 3 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, coral rocks, 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 11.11.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-004; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI Point, 09°20.927’N 082°15.808’W, coral rubble, 20 m, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-037; 4 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, on sponge Tedania (Tedania) cf. ignis (Duchaissang and Michelotti, 1864), 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-025; 1 spec., Isla San Cristobal, east of mouth of Pigeon Creek, in Halimeda clumps, 1 m, leg. T. Haney, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-044; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, NE of Lime Point, 09°24.954’N 082°19.757’W, in sea grass bed, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-045; 3 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, leg. S. Le Croy, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-035; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, coral rocks, 0.5-1.0 m, leg. A. Anker, 20.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-006; 2 spec., Isla Colón, near STRI station, off NOAA beacon, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, overnight light trap, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-036; 8 spec., Isla San Cristobal, Pigeon Creek, in Caulerpa verticillata on red mangrove prop roots, 0.5 m, leg. S. LeCroy, 08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-043; 4 spec., Bocas del Toro, Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, in coral rubble, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-042; 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, on sponge Niphates erecta, 15 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-040; 3 spec., channel between Isla Bastimentos and Isla Solarte (Hospital Bight), 09°18.269’N 082°10.339’W, leg. S. LeCroy, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-041.

Remarks. Common and widely recorded western Atlantic shrimp, ranging from North Carolina southwards to São Paulo (Brazil), including much of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); occurs in a wide variety of habitats, intertidal to 73 m.

Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt, 1933

(Fig. 1D)

Material examined.San Blas Islands. 1 spec., Isla Diablo (small uninhabited island near Cartí), reef flat with abundant rubble and some sea grass, associated with unidentified sea urchin, 1-2 m, leg. A. Anker and I. Marin, 23.05.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-033.

Remarks. Pantropical shrimp, in the western Atlantic occurring from Bermuda southwards to Espírito Santo, Brazil (Tavares et al., 2017Tavares, M.; Carvalho, L. and Mendonça, J.B. 2017. Towards a review of the decapod Crusacea from the remote oceanic archipelago of Trindade and Martin Vaz, south Atlantic Ocean: New records and notes on ecology and zoogeography. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia , 57: 157-176. ); associated with a variety of regular sea urchins, 0-10 m. The present material represents the first record of the species for Panama.

Gnathophyllum americanum Guérin-Méneville, 1855

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 135 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, under rubble in shallow water, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.2008-14-027. Isla Grande. 1 spec., under rocks, shallow water, leg. A. Anker, 21.04.2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528., OUMNH.ZC.2006-10-010. San Blas Islands. 1 spec., Isla Diablo (small uninhabited island near Cartí), reef flat with abundant rubble and some sea grass, under rubble in very shallow water (less than 2 m), leg. A. Anker, 23.05.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2011-02-032.

Remarks. Well-known pantropical species, widely recorded in the western Atlantic from Bermuda southwards to Bahia, Brazil (Tavares et al., 2017Tavares, M.; Carvalho, L. and Mendonça, J.B. 2017. Towards a review of the decapod Crusacea from the remote oceanic archipelago of Trindade and Martin Vaz, south Atlantic Ocean: New records and notes on ecology and zoogeography. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia , 57: 157-176. ); occurs in a wide variety of habitats, typically close to coral reefs, 0-50 m.

Holthuisaeus bermudensis (Armstrong, 1940)

Previous records.Anker and De Grave, 2010Anker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.: 119 [Isla Solarte, Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Widely distributed but rather uncommon western Atlantic species, ranging from Bermuda southwards to Espírito Santo, Brazil, with a few scattered records from the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico; formerly known as Periclimenaeus bermudensis (see Anker and De Grave, 2010Anker, A. and De Grave, S. 2010. Holthuisaeus, a new genus for Periclimenes (Periclimenaeus) bermudensis Armstrong, 1940 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae). p. 115-131. In: C.H.J.M Fransen, S. De Grave and P.K.L. Ng (eds), Studies on Malacostraca: Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis Memorial Volume. Crustaceana Monographs, 14. Leiden, Brill.); associated with a variety of sponge species, 15-78 m.

Leander tenuicornis (Say, 1818)

Previous records.Holthuis, 1952Holthuis, L.B. 1952. A general revision of the Palaemonidae (Crustacea Decapoda Natantia) of the Americas. II. The subfamily Palaemoninae. Occasional Papers of the Allan Hancock Foundation , 12: 1-396.: 161 [Caledonia Bay]; Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Punta Manglar, 09°19.836’N 082°15.060’W, muddy sea grass bed, sweep net, 0.5 m, leg. S. De Grave, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC. 2008-14-033; 3 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, intertidal and shallow subtidal, near sea grass, at night, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, leg. A. Anker, 05.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-034; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH. ZC.2008-14-035; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, sea grass bed, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-066, 2 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.924’N 082°19.834’W, sea grass bed, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-067; 1 spec., Isla Carenero, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, sea grass bed, leg. J. Jurovich, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-036. Isla Grande. 1 spec., southern shore, sea grass with rubble, less than 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-015.

Remarks. Pantropical shrimp, occasionally extending into temperate and even cool waters; in the western Atlantic recorded from Newfoundland southwards to the Falkland Islands (Ferreira et al., 2010Ferreira, R.S.; Vieira, R.R.R. and D’Incao, F. 2010. The marine and estuarine shrimps of the Palaemoninae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil. Zootaxa , 2606: 1-24. ); typically associated with algae and sea grass, 0-10 m.

Neopontonides beaufortensis (Borradaile, 1920)

Previous records.Holthuis, 1951Holthuis, L.B. 1951. A general revision of the Palaemonidae (Crustacea Decapoda Natantia) of the Americas. I. The subfamilies Euryrhynchidae and Pontoniinae. Occasional Papers of the Allan Hancock Foundation, 11: 1-332.: 192 [Caledonia Bay].

Remarks. It remains unclear if this species actually occurs in the Caribbean Sea or is replaced here by the related Neopontonides chacei Heard, 1986 (see below).

Neopontonides brucei Fransen and Almeida, 2009

Previous records.Fransen and Almeida, 2009Fransen, C.H.J.M. and Almeida, A.O. 2009. Neopontonides brucei, a new pontoniine shrimp species from Brazilian waters (Decapoda, Palaemonidae). Crustaceana , 82: 837-846.: 838 [Swan Cay, Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Currently known only from Bahia and São Paulo in Brazil, as well as the Caribbean coast of Panama (based on a single record) (Fransen and Almeida, 2009Fransen, C.H.J.M. and Almeida, A.O. 2009. Neopontonides brucei, a new pontoniine shrimp species from Brazilian waters (Decapoda, Palaemonidae). Crustaceana , 82: 837-846.); presumably associated with gorgonians, 1-32 m.

Neopontonides chacei Heard, 1986

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 5 spec., Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, 10 m, on unidentified gorgonian, leg. S. De Grave and M. Salazar, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-099; 4 spec., Isla Bastimentos, offshore reef near Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), Archipelago, 09°13.433’N 082°06.180’W, on Plexaurella sp., 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-138; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-145.

Remarks. Sparsely recorded in the tropical northwestern Atlantic, from the Florida Keys southwards to Belize (Wicksten and Cox, 2011Wicksten, M. K. and Cox, C. 2011. Invertebrates associated with gorgonians in the northern Gulf of Mexico . Marine Biodiversity Records , 4: e79.), and now Panama; usually associated with Antillogorgia americana, but also recorded from Leptogorgia sp. (Wicksten and Cox, 2011Wicksten, M. K. and Cox, C. 2011. Invertebrates associated with gorgonians in the northern Gulf of Mexico . Marine Biodiversity Records , 4: e79.) and now from Plexaurella sp., 1-10 m.

Palaemon northropi (Rankin, 1898)

Previous records.Holthuis, 1952Holthuis, L.B. 1952. A general revision of the Palaemonidae (Crustacea Decapoda Natantia) of the Americas. II. The subfamily Palaemoninae. Occasional Papers of the Allan Hancock Foundation , 12: 1-396.: 195 [near Colón]; Ashelby et al., 2012Ashelby, C.W.; Page, T.J.; De Grave, S.; Hughes, J.M. and Johnson, M.L. 2012. Regional scale speciation reveals multiple invasions of freshwater in Palaemoninae (Decapoda). Zoologica Scripta, 41: 293-306.: 295 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, near Playa Bluff, leg. A. Anker, 13.10.2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528., OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-011; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, under pier, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-031; many spec., same location, leg. C. Ashelby, 08.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-129.

Remarks. Common and widely distributed western Atlantic palaemonid, ranging from Bermuda southwards to Uruguay (Ferreira et al., 2010Ferreira, R.S.; Vieira, R.R.R. and D’Incao, F. 2010. The marine and estuarine shrimps of the Palaemoninae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil. Zootaxa , 2606: 1-24. ); occurs in a wide range of habitats from the intertidal to about 5 m.

Periclimenaeus caraibicus Holthuis, 1951

Previous records.Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI pier, in unidentified sponge, leg. C. Ashelby, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-130; 1 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, in unidentified sponge, 1 m, leg. L. Anderson, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-065; 1 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, on gorgonian Pseudaxinella sp., 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-034; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-033; 1 spec., Bocas del Toro, Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°19.996’N 082°13.161’W, in sponge Tedania cf. ignis, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-072; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-073; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-140.

Remarks. Sparsely distributed in the western Atlantic, from Cuba southwards to Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); recorded from a variety of habitats in older literature, but appears to be an obligate sponge associate, 0-3 m.

Periclimenaeus perlatus (Boone, 1930)

Previous records.Holthuis, 1951Holthuis, L.B. 1951. A general revision of the Palaemonidae (Crustacea Decapoda Natantia) of the Americas. I. The subfamilies Euryrhynchidae and Pontoniinae. Occasional Papers of the Allan Hancock Foundation, 11: 1-332.: 102 [Caledonia Bay].

Remarks. Sparsely recorded in the western Atlantic, from the Dry Tortugas southwards to Pernambuco, Brazil (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); an obligate sponge associate, 0-37 m.

Periclimenaeus schmitti Holthuis, 1951

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 5 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, in sponge Lissodendoryx colombiensis, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-071; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-069; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC. 2008-14-070; 3 spec., same collection data, leg. A. Anker, 07.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-064; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI Bay, in sponge Xestospongia rosariensis, leg. E. Tóth, 29.09.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-001; 2 spec., Almirante, in sponge L. colombiensis, leg. E. Tóth, 04.01.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2007-14-002; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI Bay, in unidentified sponge growing on mangrove roots, leg. J.F. Lazarus, 09.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-137; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, in unidentified sponge, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-139; 3 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, in sponge Monanchora arbuscula (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864), 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-063; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, in sponge L. colombiensis, leg. C. Ashelby, 08.08.2008, OUMNH. ZC.2008-14-128.

Remarks. Previously known only from North Carolina, the Dry Tortugas and the southern Gulf of Mexico (Santana-Moreno et al., 2013Santana-Moreno, L.D.; De Grave, S. and Simões, N. 2013. New records of caridean shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) from shallow water along the northern Yucatan peninsula coasts of México. Nauplius, 21: 225-238.), now reported for the first time from Panama and the Caribbean Sea [although the colour photograph in De Grave and Fransen (2011De Grave, S. and Fransen, C.H.J.M. 2011. Carideorum Catalogus: The recent species of the dendrobranchiate, stenopodidean, procarididean and caridean shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda). Zoologische Mededelingen, 85: 195-589., p. 359) refers to OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-064, which was also referenced in Santana-Moreno et al. (2013)Santana-Moreno, L.D.; De Grave, S. and Simões, N. 2013. New records of caridean shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) from shallow water along the northern Yucatan peninsula coasts of México. Nauplius, 21: 225-238.]; associated with various sponges, 0-20 m.

Periclimenes antipathophilus Spotte, Heard and Bubucis, 1994

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 9 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, on unidentified black coral, 15 m, leg. S. De Grave and M. Salazar, 08.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-067.

Remarks. Uncommon species; currently known from the north-eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Honduras (Bay Islands) (Wicksten et al., 2014Wicksten, M.K., Nuttall, M.F. and Hickerson, E. L. 2014. Crustaceans from antipatharians on banks of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico . Zookeys , 457: 45-54.), and now also Panama; obligatory associate of black corals, recorded as an associate on two Stichopathes Brook, 1889 species and possibly Acanthopathes thyoides (Pourtalès, 1880) (see Wicksten et al., 2014Wicksten, M.K., Nuttall, M.F. and Hickerson, E. L. 2014. Crustaceans from antipatharians on banks of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico . Zookeys , 457: 45-54.), 15-45 m.

Periclimenes colesi De Grave and Anker, 2009

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 8 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, in sponge Mycale laxissima, 15 m, leg. S. De Grave and M. Salazar, 08.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-068; 10 spec., same location, in sponge Xestospongia rosariensis, 15 m, leg. S. De Grave and M. Salazar, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-069; 4 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), 09°15.028’N 082°07.897’W, in unidentified sponge, 10 m, leg. S. De Grave and M. Salazar, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-070; 8 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-071; 2 spec., Isla Colón, STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, in sponge Niphates erecta, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-072.

Remarks. Known with certainty only from the type locality in Honduras (Bay Islands) (De Grave and Anker, 2009De Grave, S. and Anker, A. 2009. A new species of Periclimenes Costa from Utila, Honduras (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pontoniinae). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 110B: 139-148.) and now Panama (Bocas del Toro); likely to be the senior synonym of Periclimenes sandyiDe Grave, 2009De Grave, S. 2009. A further sponge-dwelling species of the Periclimenes iridescens complex from the western Atlantic (Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae). Crustaceana, 82: 829-836. (S. De Grave, pers. obs.); associated with a variety of sponges, 0-15 m.

Periclimenes mclellandi Heard and Spotte, 1997

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral, 09°14.502’N 082°08.288’W, on gorgonian Plexaurella cf. grandiflora Verrill, 1912, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 13.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-073; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-074; 2 spec., Isla Bastimentos, offshore reef near Cayo Coral, 09°13.433’N 082°06.180’W, on gorgonian Antillogorgia americana, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-075; 3 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, on A. americana, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-076; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, on unidentified sponge, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-077; 8 spec., Isla San Cristobal, Punta Coco, 09°18.070’N 082°17.661’W, on A. americana, leg. S. De Grave, 14.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2016-01-078.

Remarks. Known with certainty only from the type locality in the Turks and Caicos Islands (Heard and Spotte, 1997Heard, R.W. and Spotte, S. 1997. Pontoniine shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) of the northwest Atlantic. V. Periclimenes mclellandi, a new species, a gorgonian associate from Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington , 110: 39-48. ) and now Panama (Bocas del Toro); associated with a variety of shallow-water gorgonians, although primarily with A. americana, 1-43 m.

Periclimenes patae Heard and Spotte, 1991

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla San Cristobal, Punta Coco, 09°18.070’N 082°17.661’W, on gorgonian Plexaurella sp., leg. S. De Grave, 14.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-141.

Remarks. Previously known from the Florida Keys and the Turks and Caicos Islands (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.) and now Panama (Bocas del Toro); associated with a variety of shallow-water gorgonians, although primarily with Antillogorgia americana, 1-12 m.

Periclimenes pauper Holthuis, 1951

Material examined. Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, on black coral Antipathes sp., 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-051.

Remarks. Our single specimen from Swan Cay has no antennal tooth and thus corresponds to the diagnosis of P. pauper in Holthuis (1951Holthuis, L.B. 1951. A general revision of the Palaemonidae (Crustacea Decapoda Natantia) of the Americas. I. The subfamilies Euryrhynchidae and Pontoniinae. Occasional Papers of the Allan Hancock Foundation, 11: 1-332.), although it has a strong morphological similarity to the members of the Periclimenes iridescens (Lebour, 1949) species complex. It seems probable that this taxon was based on aberrant specimens of the P. iridescens complex and will need to be taxonomically reassessed. It was previously recorded from Venezuela and Curaçao (Criales, 1980Criales, M.M. 1980. Commensal caridean shrimps of Octocorallia and Antipatharia in Curaçao and Bonaire. Studies on the fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands, 188: 68-85. ), and now for the first time from Panama.

Periclimenes perryae Chace, 1942

Previous record:Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.: 1090 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla San Cristobal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°17.342’N 082°15.384’W, on basket star Astrophyton muricatum (Lamarck, 1816), 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-056.

Remarks. Previously recorded from Florida and Colombia (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); the unsubstantiated record from the Caribbean coast of Panama in Felder et al. (2009)Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press. refers to the above-listed specimen; obligate associate of the basket star A. muricatum, 0-10 m.

Periclimenes rathbunae Schmitt, 1924

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Carenero Island, near Buccaneer, less than 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 04.11.2006Anker, A.; Ahyong, S.; Noël, P. and Palmer, A.R. 2006. Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw. Evolution, 60: 2507-2528., OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-002; 2 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, on sea anemone Actinoporus elegans Duchassaing, 1850, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-055. Isla Grande. 2 spec., leg. unknown, 15.06.1995, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-001. San Blas Islands. 1 spec., near Cartí, leg. I. Marin and A. Anker, 23.05.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-032.

Remarks. Relatively common in the tropical north-western Atlantic, from the Dry Tortugas in Florida southwards (Brinkmann and Fransen, 2016Brinkmann, B.W. and Fransen, C.H.J.M. 2016. Identification of a new stony coral host for the anemone shrimp Periclimenes rathbunae Schmitt, 1924 with notes on the host-use pattern. Contributions to Zoology, 85: 437-456.) to Panama (new record); typically associated with sea anemones, 0-3 m, but also the coral Dendrogyra cylindricus Ehrenberg, 1834 (see Brinkmann and Fransen, 2016Brinkmann, B.W. and Fransen, C.H.J.M. 2016. Identification of a new stony coral host for the anemone shrimp Periclimenes rathbunae Schmitt, 1924 with notes on the host-use pattern. Contributions to Zoology, 85: 437-456.).

Periclimenes sandyi De Grave, 2009

Previous records. (?) Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.: 131 [San Blas Islands, as P. iridescens]; De Grave, 2009De Grave, S. and Anker, A. 2009. A new species of Periclimenes Costa from Utila, Honduras (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pontoniinae). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 110B: 139-148.: 830 [Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Known with certainty from Panama (Bocas del Toro, San Blas Islands) and Mexico (Alacranes Reef, Gulf of Mexico) (Santana-Moreno et al., 2013Santana-Moreno, L.D.; De Grave, S. and Simões, N. 2013. New records of caridean shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) from shallow water along the northern Yucatan peninsula coasts of México. Nauplius, 21: 225-238.); associated with sponges, 1-10 m. This species is most likely a junior synonym of P. colesi (see above).

Periclimenes yucatanicus (Ives, 1891)

(Fig. 1E)

Previous records.McKeon and O’Donnell, 2015McKeon, C.S. and O’Donnell, J.L. 2015. Variation in partner benefits in a shrimp-sea anemone symbiosis. PeerJ, 3: e1409.: 2 [Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°19.996’N 082°13.161’W, among shallow rubble, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-029; 6 spec., Isla San Cristobal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°16.514’N 082°14.833’W, on sea anemone Actinoporus elegans, 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-054; 2 spec., same location, on unidentified corallimorpharian, 7 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-052; 1 spec., off Isla Colón, Bahía Almirante, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-053; 1 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, in sea grass bed, sledge, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-144; 1 spec., Isla Colón, near STRI station, on unidentified anemone on mangrove root, leg. A. Anker, 29.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-005.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from Florida southwards to Espírito Santo, Brazil (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); associated with sea anemones and anemone-like corallimorpharians (carpet anemones); well-known fish cleaner, 0-9 m.

Pontonia mexicana Guérin-Méneville, 1855

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 2 spec., Cayo Coral (Coral Cay), near restaurant, 09°14.502’N 082°08.288’W, in Pinna carnea Gmelin, 1791, 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 11.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-062.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, ranging from Florida southwards to Ilha de Trindade, Brazil (Fransen, 2002Fransen, C.H.J.M. 2002. Taxonomy, phylogeny, historical biogeography, and historical ecology of the genus Pontonia Latreille (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae). Zoologische Verhandelingen, 336: 1-433. ; Tavares et al., 2017Tavares, M.; Carvalho, L. and Mendonça, J.B. 2017. Towards a review of the decapod Crusacea from the remote oceanic archipelago of Trindade and Martin Vaz, south Atlantic Ocean: New records and notes on ecology and zoogeography. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia , 57: 157-176. ); inhabiting several species of large bivalves, 0-2 m; first record for Panama.

Pseudocoutierea dotae De Grave, 2007

Previous records.De Grave, 2007De Grave, S. 2007. A new species of Pseudocoutierea Holthuis from the Caribbean coast of Panama (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae), with a key to the genus. Zootaxa , 1397: 29-37.: 30 [Isla Solarte, Bocas del Toro].

Material examined.Portobelo. 3 spec., Portobelo Bay, on Stichopathes lutkeni Brook, 1889, 15-20 m, leg. A. Anker and D. Roche, 21.07.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2015-01-032; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2015-01-033; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2015-01-034.

Remarks. This species remains known exclusively from the Caribbean coast of Panama (Bocas del Toro and now Portobelo); obligate associate of the whip coral S. lutkeni, 15-20 m.

Tuleariocaris neglecta Chace, 1969

Previous records.Giribet and Lemer, 2014Giribet, G. and Lemer, S. 2014. On the occurrence of Tuleariocaris neglecta Chace, 1969 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae) on Echinometra lucunter (Linnaeus, 1758) (Echinodermata, Echinoidea, Echinometridae) in the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama. Crustaceana , 87: 634-638.: 635 [Isla Solarte, Bocas del Toro].

Remarks. Amphi-Atlantic taxon, in the western Atlantic recorded from Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico southwards to Panama (Giribet and Lemer, 2014Giribet, G. and Lemer, S. 2014. On the occurrence of Tuleariocaris neglecta Chace, 1969 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae) on Echinometra lucunter (Linnaeus, 1758) (Echinodermata, Echinoidea, Echinometridae) in the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama. Crustaceana , 87: 634-638.); associated with several species of sea urchins, 0-2 m.

Typton carneus Holthuis, 1951

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°19.996’N 082°13.161’W, in sponge Tedania cf. ignis, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-078; 1 spec. Isla Colón, STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, in sponge Tedania (Tedania) cf. klausi Wulff, 2006, leg. J. Luque, 14.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-061.

Remarks. Recorded in the western Atlantic from Florida and Panama (new record) southwards to Pernambuco, Brazil (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); associated with several sponges, 0-73 m.

Urocaris longicaudata Stimpson, 1860

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island, as Periclimenes longicaudatus]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama, as P. longicaudatus].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Punta Manglar, 09°19.836’N 082°15.060’W, muddy sea grass bed, sweep net, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-075; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC. 2008-14-074; 4 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-037.

Remarks. Widely recorded from North Carolina southwards to Santa Catarina (Brazil) (Vieira et al., 2012Vieira, R.R.R.; Ferreira, R.S. and D’Incao, F. 2012. Pontoniinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from Brazil with taxonomic key. Zootaxa , 3149: 1-38.); usually found in sea grass beds, 0-11 m. Recorded in older literature as Periclimenes longicaudatus (see Bruce, 2007Bruce, A.J. 2007. The resurrection of the pontoniine genus Urocaris Stimpson, 1860, (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae). Zootaxa , 1632: 61-67. ).

Family Pasiphaeidae Dana, 1852

Leptochela serratorbita Spence Bate, 1888

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 2 spec., Isla Colón, STRI station, off NOAA beacon, light trap, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-076; 1 spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, light trap, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-074; 1 spec., same location, sea grass sweep, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-075; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Punta Caracol, 2 m, leg. A. Anker, 28.04.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-006.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, including much of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); found in a variety of habitats, typically with sandy bottom, nocturnally planktonic, 1-40 m. The present specimens constitute the first record of the species from Panama.

Family Processidae Ortmann, 1896

Ambidexter symmetricus Manning and Chace, 1971

Previous records.Abele, 1972bAbele, L.G. 1972b. A review of the genus Ambidexter (Crustacea: Decapoda; Processidae) in Panama. Bulletin of Marine Science, 22: 365-380.: 366 [Galeta Island]; Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 138 [Galeta reef]; Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 344 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 200 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Carenero, Buccaneer, sea grass with large sand patches, in burrow, 0.5-1.0 m, leg. A. Anker and A. Baeza, 14.10.20006, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-010; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, sand with sea grass, less than 1 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 29.04.2007, OUMNH.ZC.2009-18-005. Isla Grande. 1 spec., southwestern shore, in burrow, 0.5-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 22.04.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2006-10-007.

Remarks. Widely distributed, although relatively rarely collected western Atlantic shrimp, ranging from Florida southwards to Santa Catarina (Brazil) (Almeida and Bezerra, 2011Almeida, A.O. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2011. Nikoides schmitti Manning & Chace, 1971 (Caridea: Processidae) in the South Atlantic Ocean, with an updated list and key for processid shrimps of Brazil. Zootaxa, 2864: 24-42. ); primarily found in sea grass habitats, 0-6 m.

Nikoides schmitti Manning and Chace, 1971

Previous records.Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 377 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina southwards to Bahia, Brazil (Almeida and Bezerra, 2011Almeida, A.O. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2011. Nikoides schmitti Manning & Chace, 1971 (Caridea: Processidae) in the South Atlantic Ocean, with an updated list and key for processid shrimps of Brazil. Zootaxa, 2864: 24-42. ); occurs in a variety of habitats, most abundant in sea grass beds, 0-49 m.

Processa bermudensis (Rankin, 1900)

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 138 [Galeta reef]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point]; De Grave and Felder, 2012De Grave, S. and Felder, D.L. 2012. The genus Processa in the vicinity of Carrie Bow Cay (Belize) with description of a new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Processidae). Zootaxa, 3436: 41-50.: 50 [Caribbean Panama].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. many spec., Isla Colón, off STRI pier, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, sea grass bed, at night,, epibentic sledge, 1 m, leg. S. De Grave et al., 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-007; 15 spec., same location and collection method, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-004; 1 spec., same location and collection method, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-005; 1 spec., same location and collection method, 02.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-006; 3 spec., Isla Colón, STRI station, off NOAA beacon, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, nocturnal light trap, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-008; 2 spec., Isla Carenero, Buccaneer, sea grass flat, in burrow, 0.5-1.0 m, leg. A. Anker and A. Baeza, 14.10.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-008; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, shallow subtidal sea grass / sand flat, at night, leg. A. Anker et al., 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-059.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina southwards to Paraná, Brazil (Almeida and Bezerra, 2011Almeida, A.O. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2011. Nikoides schmitti Manning & Chace, 1971 (Caridea: Processidae) in the South Atlantic Ocean, with an updated list and key for processid shrimps of Brazil. Zootaxa, 2864: 24-42. ); found in a variety of habitats, most common in sea grass beds, 2-45 m.

Processa fimbriata Manning and Chace, 1971

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 138 [Galeta reef]; Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 3 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, in coral rubble, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-003; 1 spec., same location, on sponge Ircinia strobilina, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-001; 1 spec., same location, on sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum (Ridley and Dendy, 1886) (?), 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-002; 2 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, leg. S. De Grave, 11.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-058; 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, shallow subtidal sea grass/sand flat, at night, leg. A. Anker et al., 05.08.2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28., OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-055; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-056; 1 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-048; 2 spec., Isla Colón, west of Punta Caracol, 09°22.410’N 082°17.887’W, on sponge Ircinia sp., 1 m, leg. S. De Grave, 11.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-058; 1 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°19.996’N 082°13.161’W, shallow coral rubble, leg. S. De Grave et al., 04.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-057; 1 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Playa Wizard, in coral rocks, 0.5-1.0 m, leg. A. Anker, 21.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-007. Isla Grande. 1 spec., southwestern shore, under rocks, less than 1 m, leg. A. Anker, 21.04.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2006-10-009.

Remarks. Widely distributed in the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina and the northern Gulf of Mexico southwards to Atol das Rocas and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Almeida and Bezerra, 2011Almeida, A.O. and Bezerra, L.E.A. 2011. Nikoides schmitti Manning & Chace, 1971 (Caridea: Processidae) in the South Atlantic Ocean, with an updated list and key for processid shrimps of Brazil. Zootaxa, 2864: 24-42. ); recorded from various substrates, commonly foraging in sea grass beds at night and hiding in sponges and coral rubble during the day, 0-50 m.

Processa sp. aff. hemphilli Manning and Chace, 1971

Previous records.Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Remarks.Cubit and Williams (1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.) mention this taxon on the basis of a record in an unpublished PhD thesis. It remains unclear what species this record may refer to.

Family Thoridae Kingsley, 1879

Thor amboinensis (De Man, 1888)

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, on sea anemone Actinoporus elegans, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-017.

Remarks. Circum-tropical taxon, in the western Atlantic recorded from Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico southwards to at least Fernando de Noronha, Brazil (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.). Although recorded from the Pacific coast of Panama by Abele (1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.), the herein studied material represents the first record of T. amboinensis for the Caribbean coast of Panama. The species is usually found in close proximity to sea anemones and other cnidarians, at depths of about 0-10 m.

Thor floridanus Kingsley, 1878

Previous records. (?) Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; (?) Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama].

Remarks.Heck (1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.; 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.) records this species in his seagrass studies, whilst recording the related Thor manningiChace, 1972Chace, F.A. Jr. 1972. The shrimps of the Smithsonian-Bredin Caribbean expeditions with a summary of the West Indian shallow-water species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Natantia). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology , 98: 1-179. in other work (e.g. Heck and Wetstone, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.). Whilst it seems highly likely that only one species is involved, it cannot be discounted that both species occur in Panama. Thor floridanus is widespread in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina and the northern Gulf of Mexico southwards to Costa Rica (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); most often on seagrass and algae, 0-59 m.

Thor manningi Chace, 1972

Previous records.Birkeland et al., 1976Birkeland, C.; Reimer, A.A. and Young, J.R. 1976. Survey of marine communities in Panama and experiments with oil. Report EPA-600/3-76-028. Narrangasett, Environmental Research Laboratory.: 138 [Galeta reef]; (?) Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 338 [around Galeta Island]; Heck and Wetstone, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.: 200 [around Galeta]; (?) Heck, 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.: 199 [Caribbean Panama]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 8 spec., Isla Bastimentos, Cayo Coral, 09°15.028’N 082°07.897’W, coral rubble, 4 m, leg. S. De Grave, 07.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-012; 4 spec., reef east of mouth of Pigeon Creek, in Halimeda clumps, 1 m, leg. T. Haney, 09.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-013; many spec., Isla Carenero, northern side, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, coral rubble, 0.5 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-077; 2 spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-0039; 2 spec., Swan Cay, 09°27.200’N 082°17.900’W, coral rubble, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 04.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-011; 10 spec., Isla Solarte, Hospital Point, 09°20.016’N 082°13.133’W, coral rubble, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 06.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-009; many spec., same collection data, OUMNH.ZC. 2005-10-015; 2 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, muddy sea grass bed, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-060; 1 spec., Isla Colón, STRI station, off NOAA beacon, 09°14.983’N 082°08.239’W, overnight light trap, 3 m, leg. S. De Grave, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2005-10-014. Isla Grande. 1 spec., western point, coral rocks, 0.5-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker et al., 06.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2006-10-008.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina southwards to São Paulo, Brazil, and extending to Central Atlantic (Manning and Chace, 1990Manning, R.B. and Chace, F.A. Jr. 1990. Decapod and stomatopod Crustacea from Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology , 503: 1-91.; Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.); on a variety of substrates, most abundant in algae and amongst sea grass, 0-44m.

Infraorder Stenopodidea Spence Bate, 1888

Family Stenopodidae Claus, 1872

Odontozona libertae Gore, 1981

Material examined. Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla San Cristobal, eastern side, Laguna Porras, 09°17.342’N 082°15.384’W, in coral rubble, 7 m, leg. S. De Grave and M. Salazar, 03.08.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2012-01-001.

Remarks. The present specimen constitutes the first record of O. libertae for Panama, with the species previously known only from the Florida Keys and Colombia (Criales, 1997Criales, M.M. 1997. Microprosthema granatense, new species, from the southern Caribbean, with a key to shrimps of the genus Microprosthema from the western Atlantic and a new record of Odontozona libertae (Decapoda: Stenopodidea). Journal of Crustacean Biology, 17: 538-545.); recorded on various substrates, 7-56 m.

Stenopus hispidus (Olivier, 1811)

Previous records.Abele, 1976Abele, L.G. 1976. Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá. Marine Biology, 38: 263-278.: 273 [around Colón]; Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Carenero, eastern side, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, under rocks in shallow water, leg. A. Anker, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-076. Isla Grande. 1 spec., off western point, <1 m, leg. A. Anker, 22.04.2006, OUMNH.ZC.2006-10-005.

Remarks. Pantropical species (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.), often living in pairs, usually dwelling in crevices on reefs, from 1 to at least 200 m; well-known fish cleaner.

Stenopus scutellatus Rankin, 1898

(Fig. 1G)

Previous records.Cubit and Williams, 1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.: 25 [Galeta Point].

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 1 spec., Isla Colón, Boca del Drago, 09°24.764’N 082°19.868’W, under rocks, leg. S. De Grave, 05.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-047; 2 spec., Isla San Cristobal, Punta Coco, 1-1.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 29.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2006-10-006.

Remarks. Common western Atlantic species, distributed from Bermuda across the entire Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to northern Brazil (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.), at depths of 1-182 m; well-known fish cleaner, often encountered on or near the barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta (Schmidt, 1870).

Family Spongicolidae Schram, 1986

Microprosthema semilaeve (von Martens, 1872)

(Fig. 1H)

Previous records.Goy and Martin, 2013Goy, J.W. and Martin, J.W. 2013. Redescription of Microprosthema semilaeve (von Martens, 1872) (Decapoda: Stenopodidae: Spongicolidae) and description of a new species of Microprosthema from Dry Tortugas, Florida. Zootaxa , 3630: 467-488.: 468 [San Blas Islands; Bocas del Toro]

Material examined.Bocas del Toro. 3 spec., Isla Carenero, Buccaneer, under rocks and coral rubble, 0.5 m, leg. A. Anker, 16.10.2005, OUMNH.ZC.2007-13-012; 1 spec., Isla Carenero, eastern side, 09°20.675’N 082°13.762’W, inside dead conch, 0.5 m, leg. L. Torati, 06.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-053; 3 spec., Isla Colón, Puss Head Point, 09°21.802’N 082°14.333’W, in coral rubble, 1-2 m, leg. S. De Grave, 08.08.2008, OUMNH.ZC.2008-14-052.

Remarks. Widespread in the western Atlantic, ranging from Bermuda across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico to northeastern Brazil (Goy and Martin, 2013Goy, J.W. and Martin, J.W. 2013. Redescription of Microprosthema semilaeve (von Martens, 1872) (Decapoda: Stenopodidae: Spongicolidae) and description of a new species of Microprosthema from Dry Tortugas, Florida. Zootaxa , 3630: 467-488.), usually in or under coral rubble, at depths less than 10 m.

Discussion

A total of 151 species of caridean and 4 stenopodidean shrimp taxa have been recorded from the Caribbean side of Panama, including 20 species herein recorded for the first time. Numerically, the fauna is dominated by the Alpheidae (99 taxa in total) amounting to 63 % of the fauna, with both Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 (34 taxa) and Synalpheus (44 taxa) well represented. This is not surprising, as the area has acted as one of the focal points of western Atlantic alpheid taxonomy in recent decades (e.g. Anker, 2008Anker, A. 2008. The shrimp genus Leptalpheus Williams, 1965 in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, with description of one new species from Panama (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zoosystema , 30: 781-794.; 2010aAnker, A. 2010a. The shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae) in the tropical western Atlantic, with description of five new species. In: S. De Grave and C.H.J.M. Fransen (eds), Contributions to shrimp taxonomy. Zootaxa , 2372: 177-205.; 2010bAnker, A. 2010b. A new genus and three new species of alpheid shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea) from the tropical American coasts. Zootaxa , 2652: 47-63.; 2011aAnker, A. 2011a. Six new species and three new records of infaunal alpheid shrimps from the genera Leptalpheus Williams, 1965 and Fenneralpheus Felder and Manning, 1986 (Crustacea, Decapoda). Zootaxa , 3041: 1-38.; 2011bAnker, A. 2011b. Two new species of Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 with a deep dorsal depression on the carapace (Crustacea, Decapoda, Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 3041: 39-50.; 2012Anker, A. 2012. Revision of the western Atlantic members of the Alpheus armillatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 species complex (Decapoda, Alpheidae), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa , 3386: 1-109.; Anker and Tóth, 2008Anker, A. and Tóth, E. 2008. A preliminary revision of the Synalpheus paraneptunus Coutière, 1909 species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1915: 1-28.; Anker et al., 2007aAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2007a. Three transisthmian snapping shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae: Alpheus) associated with innkeeper worms (Echiura: Thalassematidae) in Panama. Zootaxa , 1626: 1-23.; 2007bAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2007b. Revision of the Alpheus nuttingi (Schmitt) complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with description of a new species from the tropical eastern Pacific. Zootaxa , 1577: 41-60.; 2008aAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2008a. Revision of the Alpheus cristulifrons species complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with description of a new species from the tropical eastern Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 88: 543-562.; 2008bAnker, A.; Hurt, C. and Knowlton, N. 2008b. Revision of the Alpheus formosus Gibbes, 1850 complex, with redescription of A. formosus and description of a new species from the tropical western Atlantic (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa , 1707: 1-22.; Anker and Vera Caripe, 2016Anker, A. and Vera Caripe, J. 2016. Leptalpheus pereirai sp. nov., a new alpheid shrimp from Panama and Venezuela. Zootaxa , 4127: 185-191. ), as well as extensive biological studies on sponge dwelling species of Synalpheus (e.g. Duffy, 1992Duffy, J.E. 1992. Host use patterns and demography in a guild of tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 90: 127-138.; 1993Duffy, J.E. 1993. Genetic population structure in two tropical sponge-dwelling shrimps that differ in dispersal potential. Marine Biology , 116: 459-470.; 1996Duffy, J.E. 1996. Species boundaries, specialization, and the radiation of sponge-dwelling alpheid shrimp. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 58: 307-324.; Hultgren and Duffy, 2011Hultgren, K.M. and Duffy, J.E. 2011. Multi-locus phylogeny of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp (Caridea: Alpheidae: Synalpheus) supports morphology-based species concepts. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 31: 352-360.). As is usual in the western Atlantic, the second most species rich family is the Palaemonidae, with 29 species in Caribbean Panama, i.e. 19% of the total fauna, whilst all other families are represented only by a handful of species each.

A number of factors combine to make the current checklist far from complete. Firstly, the identity of a number of previously recorded taxa could not be confirmed during the present study. For example, Alpheus heterochaelis has been recorded a number of times in the past (Heck, 1977Heck, K.L. Jr. and Wetstone, G.S. 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. Journal of Biogeography , 4: 135-142.; 1979Heck, K.L. Jr. 1979. Some determinants of the composition and abundance of motile macroinvertebrate species in tropical and temperate turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows. Journal of Biogeography, 6: 183-200.; Abele and Kim, 1989Abele, L.G. and Kim, W. 1989. The decapod crustaceans of the Panama Canal. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 482: 1-50.), whilst Processa sp. aff. hemphilli was recorded on a single occasion by Cubit and Williams (1983Cubit, J. and Williams, S. 1983. The invertebrates of Galeta Reef (Caribbean Panama): A species list and bibliography. Atoll Research Bulletin, 269: 1-45.). Without a direct re-examination of the original material recorded under those names, it is not possible to speculate to which species these could refer to and for the time being these records must stand as is, although the presence of A. heterochaelis in Panama is extremely unlikely. Other such records are annotated in the list. Secondly, it is also clear that more as yet undescribed species are already known from Panama, for instance “Synalpheus brevicarpus A” and “S. guerini B” in Hultgren et al., 2014Hultgren, K.M.; Hurt, C. and Anker, A. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 77: 116-125.; “S. pandionis RED” in Morrison et al., 2004Morrison, C.L.; Ríos, R. and Duffy, J.E. 2004. Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 30: 563-581. (the latter also listed in Hultgren et al., 2010Hultgren, K.M.; MacDonald, K.S.II. and Duffy, J.E. 2010. Sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps of Curaçao, with descriptions of three new species. Zootaxa, 2372: 221-262.); and at least one unidentified, possibly undescribed species of Leptalpheus Williams, 1965 in Anker (2011Anker, A. and Cox, D. 2011. A new species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Guam. Micronesica, 41: 197-214.), as well as a further, two undescribed species in the genera Alpheus and Odontozona Holthuis, 1946 which are currently being described by the second author. Additionally, a number of unresolved species complexes are known to have representatives in the Panamanian Caribbean fauna, such as the Alpheus normanni and Alpheus paracrinitus species complexes, each with several cryptic taxa (Williams et al., 2001Williams, S.T.; Knowlton, N.; Weigt, L.A. and Jara, A. 2001. Evidence for three major clades within the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , 20: 375-389.; Anker, pers. obs.).

A biogeographical analysis of the western Atlantic shrimp fauna is rather hampered by the fact that the majority of species, especially in the numerically dominant Alpheidae, have only been described in the last two decades. Nevertheless a few relatively recent studies allow for a broad-brush comparison of species richness of the Caribbean Panamanian shrimp fauna. A total of 122 species of shallow water caridean and stenopodidean shrimps have been recorded from Mexico (Felder et al., 2009Felder, D.L.; Alvarez, F.; Goy, J.W. and Lemaitre, R. 2009. Decapoda (Crustacea) of the Gulf of Mexico, with comments on the Amphionidacea. p. 1019-1104. In: D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds), Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters and Biota. College Station, Texas A&M University Press.; Santana-Moreno et al., 2013Santana-Moreno, L.D.; De Grave, S. and Simões, N. 2013. New records of caridean shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) from shallow water along the northern Yucatan peninsula coasts of México. Nauplius, 21: 225-238.; Duarte et al., 2014Duarte, J.; Hermoso-Salazar, M.; Anker, A. and Simões, N. 2014. New records of alpheid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the southern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Biodiversity Records , 7: e110.), a much bigger country with the total Atlantic coastline approximately 2805 km long. Cuba, with a coastline of 3735 km, has 106 species of caridean and stenopodidean shrimps (Martínez-Iglesias et al., 1996Martínez-Iglesias, J.C.; Carvacho, A. and Ríos, R. 1996. Catálogo de los carídeos marinos (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea) de las aguas someras de Cuba. Avicennia, 4/5: 27-40.; Lalana and Ortiz, 2000Lalana, R. and Ortiz, M. 2000. Lista actualizada de los crustaceos decapodos de Cuba. Revista Investigaciones Marinas, 21: 33-44. ; De Grave et al., 2017De Grave, S.; Anker, A.; Pindar, C.; Sandell, J. and Johnson, M.L. 2017. Eleven new records of caridean shrimps from Cuban waters (Decapoda, Caridea). Crustaceana, 90: 617-624. ), although this number appears rather low and is likely due to insufficient sampling and taxonomic work. The Caribbean coastline of Panama is about 1288 km in length, which is roughly a third of those of the Atlantic coast of Mexico and Cuba. Yet it harbours proportionally a much higher number of species, with the total estimated number to be somewhat in excess of 154 species. Although species richness on this scale is largely a reflection of habitat heterogeneity, local sampling effort plays a significant role. It is interesting to note that the majority of recent records are from the immediate vicinity of the STRI Research Station in Bocas del Toro, a far smaller area than the total available coastal sampling area in Panama. In an interesting parallel, Cubagua Island (Venezuela) has been intensively sampled over a number of years and despite being only 22 km² in area it harbours 46 species of Caridea and Stenopodidea (Hernández-Ávila et al., 2007Hernández-Ávila, I.; Gómez, A.; Lira, C. and Galindo, L. 2007. Benthic decapod crustaceans (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Cubagua Island, Venezuela. Zootaxa , 1557: 33-45.). Without any doubts, additional sampling on the Caribbean coast of Panama, especially in waters deeper than 30 m, as well as in the extensive San Blas Archipelago, will yield additional species of shrimps. However, it is already clear that Panama, with its heterogeneous Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, represents one of the major hotspots for marine biodiversity in the Americas and worldwide.

Acknowledgements

SDG acknowledges Rachel Colin, Director of the Bocas del Toro Research Station (BRS) for the opportunity to participate in the Third Taxonomy Workshop (August 2005), funded by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Both authors acknowledge Rachel Colin for organising the August 2008 Caridean shrimp workshop at BRS, as well as the BRS based logistics experts and the collecting efforts of all the international participants. AA thanks the Programa de Capacitação Institucional (PCI) of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) and Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) for providing funding to finalise this study.

References

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