An aberrant specimen of the genus Laomedia De Haan, 1841, with an additional description of Laomedia astacina De Haan, 1841 and a new genus, Heteroaxianassa (Decapoda, Thalassinidea, Laomediidae)

Abstract

The genusLaomediaDe Haan, 1841 of the family Laomediidae Borradaile, 1903 includes four known species,L. astacinaDe Haan, 1841,L. healyiYaldwyn & Wear, 1970,L. paucispinosaNgoc-Ho, 1997, andL. barronensisNgoc-Ho & Yaldwyn, 1997. Herein, a fifth, possibly new species is described that, because of the lack of undamaged, adult specimens and the absence of locality data, is designated provisionally asLaomediasp. A. Furthermore, an extended description ofLaomedia astacinais provided, based on new material from Japan and also a newly revised key to the species of the genusLaomediais presented. In addition, a new genus,Heteroaxianassagen. nov., is proposed.