Unresolved taxonomy confounds invasive species identification: theLysmata vittataStimpson, 1860 (Decapoda: Caridea: Lysmatidae) species complex and recent introduction ofLysmata vittatasensu stricto in the western Atlantic

Abstract

Peppermint shrimp resembling Lysmata vittataStimpson, 1860, a species native to the Indo-West Pacific, were found in the lower Chesapeake Bay and adjacent coastal embayments in 2013, representing the first recorded introduction of this species in the northwestern Atlantic. Conflicting morphological descriptions, inconsistent morphological terminology, and limited molecular data (i.e., unresolved taxonomy), as well as the destruction of the type material of L. vittata, created uncertainty regarding proper identification. We provide the first phylogeny incorporating individuals from across the presumed native and introduced range of L. vittata. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses clearly indicate L. vittata represents a species complex of two widely divergent groups: 1) “Bruce Type” with a uniramous dorsal antennule that agrees with A.J. Bruce’s 1990 redescription of L. vittata, and 2) “Rauli Type” with a one-article accessory branch on the dorsal antennule that agrees most closely with the junior synonym L. rauliLaubenheimer & Rhyne, 2010. Given the taxonomic ambiguity surrounding L. vittata, we designate the individual used by A.J. Bruce to redescribe L. vittata and incorporated in our analyses as a neotype to fix the identity of this species. We therefore identify introduced North American and New Zealand populations as L. vittata sensu stricto and postulate that the native range spans temperate/subtropical East Asia. These data suggest that L. rauli is a valid species, which includes a possible undescribed sister species. We confirm the presence of L. californicaStimpson, 1866 in New Zealand, the first non-native record for this species. We also provide data suggesting L. disparHayashi, 2007 may be more widespread in the Indo-West Pacific than currently known and consider L. lipkeiOkuno & Fiedler, 2010 to be a likely junior synonym.

Refining southwestern Atlantic peppermint shrimp biodiversity: description of a new species ofLysmata(Decapoda: Lysmatidae) using an integrative systematic approach

“…Species of the L. intermedia complex can also be separated by their colour in life, as can species of the L. wurdemanni (Gibbes, 1850) and L . vittata (Stimpson, 1860) complex, and the sister species L. amboinensis and L. grabhami (Rhyne and Lin, 2006; Baeza, 2010 b ; Baeza and Behringer, 2017; Aguilar et al ., 2022; Guéron et al ., 2022). Lysmata elisa sp.…”

“…combining morphological data with other data sources) to expand knowledge of local and global biodiversity. In earlier studies, integrative taxonomy proved to be an effective tool in resolving taxonomic confusions previously caused by morphological similarity between different taxa and the discovery of species not yet known, especially in peppermint shrimp (Rhyne and Lin, 2006; Baeza and Prakash, 2019; Aguilar et al ., 2022; Guéron et al ., 2022). The biodiversity of this group of shrimps deserves special attention, as they are intensively exploited in the aquarium trade (Baeza and Behringer, 2017).…”