A new species of Mirocaris (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Alvinocarididae) associated with hydrothermal vents on the Central Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean

Abstract

Mirocaris indica, a new species of the caridean family Alvinocarididae, is described based on 17 specimens from hydrothermal vent fields on the Central Indian Ridge near the Rodriguez Triple Junction. The new species closely resembles the only known representative of Mirocaris, the Atlantic species M. fortunata (Martin and Christiansen). Shared major characters include the dorsoventrally flattened, unarmed rostrum, the presence of epipods on the third maxilliped through to the fourth pereopod with corresponding setobranchs on the first to fifth pereopods, and the lack of appendices internae on the third and fourth pleopods. However, the lack of submarginal rows of short to long stiff setae on the external surfaces of the fingers of the first chela distinguishes M. indica from M. fortunata, and may reflect a difference in feeding habit between the two species. Further, M. indica may attain a larger adult size than M. fortunata does.

Keywords

• crustacea
• decapoda
• caridea
• alvinocarididae
• mirocaris
• new species
• central indian ridge
• hydrothermal vent