Synapseudes marinae (Tanaidacea, Apseudomorpha, Metapseudidae) the first metapseudid species from the Sea of Crete, and redescription of S. mediterraneus from Israel

By

Bâlcu, Maxim-J.
Motoc, Rozalia
Ștefan, Andrei
Murariu, Dumitru
Popa, Oana Paula

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-8-8

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

101

Series / Issue

Issue: 4

Pages

1423--1443

Subjects

crustacean , Mediterranean Sea , molecular analysis , Morphology , SEM images , shallow waters , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.153299

 

Abstract

We present the morphological and genetic characterization of a new shallow-water tanaid, Synapseudes marinaesp. nov., collected from Milatos Beach on the northern coast of Crete, marking the first record of the genus Synapseudes from the Sea of Crete. This species exhibits strong morphological similarities to Synapseudes mediterraneus, briefly described by Băcescu in 1977 from the Mediterranean waters of Israel, which is also redescribed herein. In addition to the taxonomic descriptions, we include mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) data to support the classification of the newly described species within the Synapseudes genus, noting a p-distance value of 28% between species of Synapseudes. A detailed diagnosis of the Synapseudes species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea is provided. Scanning electron microscopy images of S. marinaesp. nov. have been incorporated to enhance the optical microscope drawings and provide a more comprehensive depiction of this new species.