Recognizing two new Hippolyte species (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from the South China Sea based on integrative taxonomy

Sample collection and morphological examination

The information on biodiversity surveys are listed in Table 1. Although seaweed beds and coral reefs were sampled, species of Hippolyte were found only among algae and sea grass (Sargassum sp., Zostera sp., Galaxaura sp., and Halimeda sp.). All specimens were collected using handheld nets while snorkeling. After being photographed, specimens were preserved in 95% ethanol. Dissection and illustrations were carried out using Nikon stereo- and compound microscopes (SMZ 1500 and AZ100). Measurements and length ratios were calculated following D’Udekem D’Acoz (1996). All specimens are deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBM), in the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.

Molecular data and analysis

Total genomic DNA was extracted from pleopods of specimens using a QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany), following manufacturer instructions. Extracted DNA was eluted in 100 μl of double-distilled H₂O (ddH₂O). Partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes were amplified from the diluted DNA via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Reactions were carried out in a 50-μl volume containing: 25 μl Premix Taq (TaKaRa Taq™ Version 2.0 plus dye; TaKaRa, Kusatsu, Japan), one μl each of forward and reverse primers (10 μM), respectively, three μl DNA template, and 20 μl ddH₂O. Primers 16S-AR/1472 (5′-CGCCTGTTTATCAAAAACAT-3′/5′-AGATAGAAACCAACCTGG-3′) was used (Crandall & Fitzpatrick, 1996). The PCR profile involved: 3 min at 94 °C for initial denaturation, 35 cycles of denaturation at 94 °C for 30 s, annealing at 52 °C for 40 s, elongation at 72 °C for 50 s, and final extension at 72 °C for 10 min. PCR products were purified using a QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany), and bidirectionally sequenced using the same primers with an ABI 3730xl Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Sequences were checked and proofread by ContigExpess 6.0 (a component of the Vector NTI Suite 6.0).

In addition to sequences obtained by PCR (Table 2; Dataset S1), we downloaded Hippolyte sequences from Genbank, including those previously reported cryptic or pseudocryptic taxa namely H. ventricosa group-sp. 1 (KX588914), H. ventricosa group-sp. 2 (KX588915), H. ventricosa group-sp. 3 (KX588915), and H. ventricosa group-sp. 4 (KX588915) of Terossi, De Grave & Mantelatto (2017), and H. ventricosa group-sp. 5 (KF023090) of De Grave et al. (2014).

Molecular data (Dataset S2), including 37 sequences of 16S rRNA genes, were aligned using MUSCLE 3.8 (Edgar, 2004). Highly divergent and poorly aligned sites were omitted from alignment according to Gblocks 0.91b (Castresana, 2000). The best-fitting nucleotide base substitution model (GTR+I+G) for the alignment data was determined by Modeltest 3.7 (Posada & Crandall, 1998). A maximum likelihood tree was constructed using PhyML 3.1 (Guindon & Gascuel, 2003) with 1,000 bootstrap reiterations. A Bayesian inference tree was constructed using MrBayes 3.2 (Huelsenbeck & Ronquist, 2001). Markov chains were run for 2,000,000 generations, sampled every 2,000 generations; the first 25% trees were discarded as burn-in, after which remaining trees were used to construct the 50% majority-rule consensus tree and to estimate posterior probabilities. Genetic distances were calculated using the Kimura 2-parameter model in MEGA 7.0 (Kumar, Stecher & Tamura, 2016).

Ecological data

The biotope (mainly the algal colony) in which a shrimp lived was recorded on capture.

The following abbreviations are used: CL, carapace length, the length from the posterior orbital margin to the posterior dorsal border of the carapace; Coll., collector (s).

The electronic version of this article in portable document format will represent a published work according to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), and hence the new names contained in the electronic version are effectively published under that Code from the electronic edition alone. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank Life Science Identifiers (LSIDs) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix http://zoobank.org/. The LSID for this publication is urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1186ACB4-410C-4061-BE93-97CE040F0702. The online version of this work is archived and available from the following digital repositories: PeerJ, PubMed Central, and CLOCKSS.

Taxonomy

• Order Decapoda Latreille, 1802

• Family Hippolytidae Spence Bate, 1888

• Genus Hippolyte Leach, 1814

• Hippolyte chacei sp. nov.

• (Figs. 1–4 and 5A)

Material examined. Holotype: MBM285015, non-ovigerous female, 3.3 mm CL, Hongtang bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, one to three m, Coll. Z B, Gan, March 25, 2018 (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231007). Paratypes: MBM285016, one male, 2.3 mm CL, same collection data as holotype (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231008); MBM285017, two non-ovigerous female, 2.7–3.0 mm CL, Houhai bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, two to three m, Coll. Z B. Gan, March 22, 2018.

Description. Outline robust (Fig. 1). Ratio lateral length/height of carapace 1.56–1.72. Rostrum long, slightly shorter than carapace, distinctly overreaching antennular peduncle, nearly reaching to the end of scaphocerite. Rostrum without lateral carina, superior border slightly concaved, unarmed in the female specimens (Figs. 2A and 2B) and armed with only one proximal tooth in the male specimen (Fig. 2C); inferior border slightly convex, armed with four teeth in the distal half length. Carapace smooth and glabrous, location of supraorbital spine behind of the posterior orbital margin; tip of antennal spine slightly overreaching inferior orbital angle; tip of hepatic spine falling short of anterior edge of carapace. Inferior orbital angle strongly produced, knob-like (Figs. 2B and 2D). Branchiostegal margin with a distinct notch. Pterygostomian region rounded, strongly produced (Figs. 1 and 2B).

Abdominal segments smooth (Fig. 1). Third abdominal segment geniculately curved. Ratio dorsal length/height of the sixth abdominal segment 1.95–2.10. Telson (Fig. 2E) longer than the sixth abdominal segment, posterior margin rounded, armed with eight strong spines, outer spines smallest, medial two longest, without intermediate spinule or seta; dorsal surface armed with two pairs of spines situated on distal 0.31–0.35 and 0.59–0.63 telson length.

Eye (Fig. 2A) well developed, tip of cornea nearly reaching to the end of first segment of antennular peduncle when extended forward; unpigmented part of eyestalk longer than broad; cornea semispherical, distinctly shorter than unpigmented part of eyestalk.

Antennular peduncle (Fig. 2F) slightly overreaching mid-length of scaphocerite. First segment of antennular peduncle with one well developed distolateral tooth, inner ventral tooth (Fig. 2G) on 0.47–0.50 of first segment (excluding distolateral tooth). Stylocerite robust, reaching to 0.56–0.62 (distolateral tooth included), or 0.69–0.75 (distolateral tooth excluded) of first segment. Second segment of antennular peduncle 0.81–0.86 times as long as broad in dorsal view, approximately 0.86–0.98 times as long as third segment in dorsal view. Outer antennular flagellum shorter than inner one and proximal six to eight segments thicker than distal ones. Scaphocerite (Fig. 2H) 3.06–3.18 times as long as wide, distolateral spine of scaphocerite far from reaching distal margin of blade, distolateral spine and blade separated by a distinct notch.

Mandible (Figs. 3A and 3B) without palp, incisor process with 15–17 acute teeth. Maxillula (Fig. 3C) with broad curved palp, distal margin of upper lacinia armed with 14–18 spines and scattered simple long setae. Maxilla (Fig. 3D) with short palp, scaphognathite broad and long, lateral border nearly straight; inner lacinia bilobed, distal margin furnished with row of spines and long plumose setae; proximal endite round, with long setae on distal margin. Epipod of first maxilliped (Fig. 3E) slightly bilobed; endopod broad, with distal long setae; exopod well-developed, caridean lobe broad. Second maxilliped (Fig. 3F) with well-developed exopod, flagelliform; endopod normal, dactylar segment oval, terminal margin furnished with simple and spinous setae; propodal segment with anteromedial margin round, bearing simple setae; carpus broader than long, shorter than merus; ischium and basis fused. Third maxilliped (Fig. 3G) reaching to 0.32–0.39 of scaphocerite when extended forward; exopod relatively short, only reaching to the mid-length of antepenultimate segmentof endopod; ultimate segment (excluding apical spine) of endopod 1.23–1.32 times as long as penultimate segment, distal half armed with seven to nine strong spines; antepenultimate segment nearly equal length to the last two segments combined.

First pereiopod (Fig. 4A) shortest among pereiopods, robust and oblique, reaching to the end of basicerite when extended forward. Ventral margin of ischium, merus, and carpus furnished with long simple setae. Terminal margin of carpus cotyloid. Cutting edges of chela non-denticulate, outer margin of fingers with long simple setae, tip of fingers armed with three acute spines, respectively (Fig. 4B).

Second pereiopod (Fig. 4C) slightly overreaching the end of third maxilliped when extended forward. Carpus with three subsegments, first subsegment 1.70–1.85 times as long as second subsegment, third subsegment slightly longer than or subequal to first subsegment; first subsegment 2.45–2.56 times as long as wide, second subsegment 1.08–1.12 times as long as wide, third subsegment 2.06–2.12 times as long as wide. Cutting edges of chela not denticulate, outer margin of fingers with long simple setae, tip of fixed finger and dactylus armed with three acute spines, respectively (Fig. 4D).

Third to fifth pereiopods long and robust. Third pereiopod (Fig. 4E) reaching to the distolateral spine of scaphocerite when extended forward; dactylus with 13–16 spines, the last two to three subdorsal spines distinctly shorter than the neighboring ones (Fig. 4F); propodus 5.56–5.62 times as long as wide, armed with six to seven pairs of spines on ventral margin; carpus 2.66–2.73 times as long as wide, armed with one proximal lateral spine; merus 5.58–5.62 times as long as wide, armed with three lateral spines. Ratio length of third pereiopod dactylus with longest apical spine/length of propodus 0.45–0.49; ratio length of third pereiopod dactylus with longest apical spine/length of carpus 0.79–0.83; ratio length of dactylus without spines/breadth of dactylus without spines 2.61–2.69; ratio length of dactylus with longest spines/breadth of dactylus without spines 2.95–3.10; ratio length of longest spine of dactylus/breadth of dactylus without spines 0.62–0.71; ratio length of longest spine of dactylus/length of dactylus without spines 0.22–0.28. Third pereiopod (Figs. 4G and 4H) of male specimen with propodus and dactylus forming a prehensile apparatus. Fourth and fifth pereiopods (Figs. 4I–4L) similar in shape to third pereiopod of female specimen, but slightly decreasing in size. Merus of fourth pereiopod armed with two lateral spines; merus of fifth pereiopod without lateral spine.

First pleopod (Fig. 4M) of female specimen normal, endopod about 0.54–0.62 times as long as exopod. First pleopod (Fig. 4N) of male specimen with endopod about 0.41–0.46 times as long as exopod. Second pleopod (Fig. 4O) of male specimen with endopod about 0.81–0.89 times as long as exopod, appendix masculina with nine apical setae, about 0.39–0.43 times as long as appendix interna (Fig. 4P).

Coloration. Generally light brown over body (Fig. 5A), with few tawny stripes on carapace and faint tawny spots on abdomen.

Biotope. All specimens were captured among gulfweed (Sargassum sp.) at depths of one to three m. Numerous Hippolyte cf. ventricosa were captured simultaneously.

Distribution. Hongtang and Houhai bays, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea. Presumably, this species also occurs in Malayan Archipelago and Madagascar (see Discussion).

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Fenner A. Chace, Jr. in recognition of his great contribution to the crustacean taxonomy.

Hippolyte nanhaiensis sp. nov.

(Figs. 6–9 and 5B–5E)

Material examined. Holotype: MBM285018, ovigerous female, 1.6 mm CL, Ganquan Island, Xisha Islands, the South China Sea, one to three m, Coll. Z B, Gan, May 15, 2015 (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231005). Paratypes: MBM285019, one male, 1.1 mm CL, same collection data as holotype (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231006); MBM189210, four ovigerous female, 1.3–1.6 mm CL, two female, 1.2–1.3 mm CL, two male, 0.9–1.1 mm CL, one juvenile 0.6 mm CL, same collection data as holotype; MBM189211, 19 ovigerous female, 1.3–1.9 mm CL, six female, 1.0–1.4 mm CL, five male, 0.8–1.1 mm CL, five juvenile 0.6–0.8 mm CL, Bei Island, Xisha Islands, the South China Sea, one to three m, Coll. Z B. Gan, May 13, 2015.

Description. Outline stout (Fig. 6). Ratio lateral length/height of carapace 1.49–1.58. Rostrum distinctly shorter than carapace, reaching to or slightly overreaching the end of antennular peduncle. Rostrum without lateral carina, superior border straight, armed with one or two teeth in proximal position (Figs. 7A–7D); inferior border armed with one subdistal tooth in female specimens (Fig. 7C), unarmed or only with a tiny distal notch in male specimens (Fig. 7D). Carapace smooth and glabrous. Location of supraorbital spine behind of the posterior orbital margin. Antennal spine small, slightly overreaching inferior orbital angle. Hepatic spine reaching to or slightly overreaching anterior edge of carapace. Inferior orbital angle produced, knob-like (Figs. 7B and 7C). Branchiostegal margin sinuous. Pterygostomian region rounded, strongly produced (Fig. 7C).

Abdominal segments smooth (Fig. 6), without or with few long plumose setae on tergum. Third abdominal segment geniculately curved. Ratio dorsal length/height of the sixth abdominal segment 1.91–2.08. Telson (Fig. 7E) longer than sixth abdominal segment, posterior margin rounded, armed with eight strong spines, outer spines smallest, medial two longest, without or with two intermediate long plumose setae; dorsal surface armed with two pairs of spines situated on distal 0.21–0.26 and 0.43–0.49 telson length.

Eye (Fig. 7A) well developed, tip of cornea falling short of the first segment of antennular peduncle when extended forward; unpigmented part of eyestalk slightly longer than broad; cornea semispherical, slightly shorter than unpigmented part of eyestalk.

Antennular peduncle (Fig. 7F) distinctly overreaching mid-length of scaphocerite. First segment of antennular peduncle with one distolateral tooth; inner ventral tooth (Fig. 7G) on 0.59–0.66 of first segment (excluding distolateral tooth), small. Stylocerite robust, reaching to 0.86–0.92 (distolateral tooth included), or 0.76–0.81 (distolateral tooth excluded) of first segment. Second segment of antennular peduncle 0.88–0.96 times as long as broad in dorsal view, 0.83–0.95 times as long as third segment. Outer antennular flagellum shorter than inner one and proximal seven to nine segments thicker than distal ones. Scaphocerite (Fig. 7H) 2.19–2.38 times as long as wide, distolateral spine of scaphocerite far from reaching distal margin of blade, distolateral spine and blade separated by a notch.

Mouthparts with morphology typical for the genus Hippolyte. Mandible (Fig. 8A) without palp, incisor process with five acute teeth. Maxillula (Fig. 8B) with curved palp, distal margin of upper lacinia armed with 8–10 spines and two long plumose setae. Maxilla (Fig. 8C) with short palp; scaphognathite broad in upper half and narrow in lower half, lateral border nearly straight; inner lacinia bilobed, distal margin furnished with spinous setae; proximal endite round, with long plumose setae on distal margin. Endopod of first maxilliped (Fig. 8D) slender, with long plumose setae; exopod with feeble caridean lobe on base. Second maxilliped (Fig. 8E) with well-developed exopod, flagelliform; endopod normal, dactylar segment arched, terminal margin armed with row of long spines; propodal segment bearing few long plumose setae; carpus longer than broad, shorter than merus. Third maxilliped (Fig. 8F) reaching to mid-length of scaphocerite when extended forward; exopod reaching to 0.72–0.79 of antepenultimate segment; ultimate segment (excluding apical spine) of endopod 1.61–1.78 times as long as penultimate segment, distal half armed with six to nine strong spines; antepenultimate segment slightly shorter than the last two segments combined.

First pereiopod (Fig. 9A) shortest among pereiopods, oblique, nearly reaching to mid-length of the scaphocerite when extended forward. Ventral margin of basis, ischium, and merus furnished with long plumose setae. Terminal margin of carpus cotyloid. Cutting edges of chela non-denticulate, outer margin of fingers with long simple setae, tip of fixed finger with three acute spines, tip of dactylus with four acute spines (Fig. 9B).

Second pereiopod (Fig. 9C) slightly overreaching the distolateral spine of scaphocerite when extended forward. Carpus with three subsegments, first subsegment 2.13–2.26 times as long as second subsegment, third subsegment slightly shorter than first subsegment; first subsegment 2.65–2.76 times as long as wide, second subsegment 1.08–1.16 times as long as wide, third subsegment 1.76–1.83 times as long as wide. Cutting edges of chela not denticulate, outer margin of fingers with long simple setae, tip of fixed finger with three acute spines, tip of dactylus with four acute spines (Fig. 9D).

Third to fifth pereiopods long and robust. Third pereiopod (Fig. 9E) reaching beyond terminal blade of scaphocerite by dactylus when extended forward; dactylus with 8–10 spines, all spines in ventral and apical position (none in dorsal or subdorsal position), with two apical spines larger than others (the ultimate one longer but thinner than the penultimate one) (Fig. 9F); propodus 6.98–7.12 times as long as wide, armed with four to six pairs of spines on ventral margin; carpus 2.96–3.14 times as long as wide, armed with one proximal lateral spine; merus 6.45–6.63 times as long as wide, armed with two lateral spines. Ratio length of third pereiopod dactylus with longest apical spine/length of propodus 0.42–0.46; ratio length of third pereiopod dactylus with longest apical spine/length of carpus 0.86–0.92; ratio length of dactylus without spines/breadth of dactylus without spines 2.86–2.93; ratio length of dactylus with longest spines/breadth of dactylus without spines 4.35–4.43; ratio length of longest spine of dactylus/breadth of dactylus without spines 1.50–1.55; ratio length of longest spine of dactylus/length of dactylus without spines 0.53–0.58. Third pereiopod of male specimen with propodus and dactylus forming a prehensile apparatus (Figs. 9G and 9H). Fourth and fifth pereiopods (Figs. 9I and 9J) similar in shape to third pereiopod of female specimen, but slightly decreasing in size. Merus of fourth pereiopod armed with 0–1 lateral spine, merus of fifth pereiopod without lateral spine.

First pleopod (Fig. 9K) of female specimen normal, endopod about 0.72–0.78 times as long as exopod. First pleopod (Fig. 9L) of male specimen with endopod about 0.25–0.29 times as long as exopod. Second pleopod (Fig. 9M) of male specimen with endopod about 0.79–0.86 times as long as exopod; appendix masculina with eight apical setae, about 0.41–0.47 times as long as appendix interna (Fig. 9N).

Coloration and Biotopes. Specimens collected from different biotopes manifested different body colors. Specimens (Figs. 5B and 5C) captured among Galaxaura sp. were generally pink over body, with numerous white spots; specimens (Figs. 5D and 5E) captured among Halimeda sp. were generally light green over body, with white or pink stains on the carapace, abdomen, and telson. All specimens were captured from one to three m depth.

Distribution. Xisha Islands, South China Sea. Presumably, this species also occurs in Taiwan Island (see Discussion).

Etymology. “Nanhai” means the South China Sea; the new species is named after its type locality.

Hippolyte cf. ventricosa H. Milne Edwards, 1837

(Figs. 5F–5J)

Material examined. MBM189209, ovigerous female, 4.9 mm CL, Houhai bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, one to three m, Coll. Z B, Gan, November 22, 2014 (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231003). MBM189208, 19 male, 1.6–2.8 mm CL, 25 female, 1.8–4.7 mm CL, 36 ovigerous female, 2.6–5.0 mm CL, 11 juvenile 0.6–1.1 mm CL, same collection data as MBM189209; MBM189207, one ovigerous female, 3.8 mm CL, Hongtang bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, one to two m, Coll. Z B. Gan, March 22, 2018 (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231004); MBM189208, three male, 1.3–2.6 mm CL, three female, 1.5–3.9 mm CL, six ovigerous female, 2.5–4.7 mm CL, same collection data as MBM189207; MBM189206, one female, 3.5 mm CL, Luhuitou bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, one to two m, Coll. Z B. Gan, May 8, 2015 (GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA gene: MK231009); MBM189205, two male, 2.0–2.6 mm CL, one female, 3.2 mm CL, four ovigerous female, 2.8–3.9 mm CL, same collection data as MBM189206; MBM189204, five male, 1.4–2.8 mm CL, seven female, 1.4–4.0 mm CL, nine ovigerous female, 2.2–4.5 mm CL, Dadonghai bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, two to three m, Coll. Z B. Gan, April 25, 2016; MBM189203, four male, 1.1–2.9 mm CL, nine female, 1.3–3.8 mm CL, 15 ovigerous female, 2.3–4.4 mm CL, two juvenile 0.6–0.9 mm CL, Yalong bay, Hainan Island, northern South China Sea, one to three m, Coll. Z B. Gan, September 18, 2017.

Remarks. These specimens had the following features: (1) first article of the antennular peduncle with one distolateral tooth, and fifth pleonite no dorsolateral tooth; (2) carapace length of mature females among 1.8–3.3 mm, and total length among 13–24 mm; (3) rostrum distinctly overreaching the end of the antennular peduncle but falling short of scaphocerite apex, superior border with one to two teeth and inferior border with one to five teeth; (4) incisor process of mandible with five to six teeth; (5) scaphocerite 2.79–3.38 times as long as wide; (6) dactyli of the third to fifth pereiopods with two large apical spines, but the longest apical spine never exceeding the half-length of dactyli properly, the ratio of the longest spine of dactylus/length of dactylus without spines among 0.33–0.41; (7) specimens displaying various colorations (Figs. 5F–5J).

These features differ from those described for H. acuta, H. australiensis, H. ngi, H. singaporensis, and H. nanhaiensis sp. nov., but are similar to the morphological characters of H. ventricosa (referring to the redescription of D’Udekem D’Acoz, 1999). More than four cryptic or pseudocryptic species were recently detected using molecular markers, which were also morphologically very similar to H. ventricosa (De Grave et al., 2014; Terossi, De Grave & Mantelatto, 2017). Therefore, it is not clear which specimens represent the true H. ventricosa; 16S rRNA or other genetic data derived from the H. ventricosa topotype are expected to resolve this issue.

Coloration and Biotopes. Specimens captured among Thalassia sp. were generally bright green over body (Fig. 5F), or green over body with pink or brown stains on carapace, abdomen, and telson (Fig. 5J); specimens (Figs. 5G–5I) captured among Sargassum sp. are generally sandy brown or reddish brown over body, with or without white stains on carapace, abdomen, and telson. All specimens were captured at depths of one to three m.

Key to mature female of Hippolyte for the Indo-West Pacific and neighboring seas

• 1a-First segment of antennular peduncle without distolateral tooth 2

• 1b-First segment of antennular peduncle with one distolateral tooth 3

• 2a-Merus of third pereiopod with no more than one lateral spine, scaphocerite about 2.8 times as long as wide H. proteus

• 2b-Merus of third pereiopod with 3–5 lateral spines, scaphocerite about 3.5 times as long as wide H. kraussiana

• 3a-Dactyli of third to fifth pereiopods slender, simple, with elongate curved unguis, without ventral spines, mainly associated with Alcyonacean corals 4

• 3b-Dactyli of third to fifth pereiopods with obvious ventral or subdorsal spines, mainly inhabited among seaweeds 5

• 4a-Carapace with dorsal surface strongly gibbous, fingers of first pereiopod about half as long as palm H. dossena

• 4b-Carapace with dorsal surface flat, non-gibbous, fingers of first pereiopod subequal to palm H. commensalis

• 5a-Rostrum not overreaching the end of antennular penduncle 6

• 5b-Rostrum distinctly overreaching the end of antennular penduncle 10

• 6a-Rostrum less than half length of carapace, reaching to the end of first segment of antennular peduncle at most H. edmondsoni

• 6b-Rostrum longer than the half length of carapace, reaching to the end of antennular peduncle 7

• 7a-Rostrum without dorsal tooth, base of hepatic spine nearly situating at anterior edge of carapace H. singaporensis

• 7b-Rostrum with 1-2 dorsal teeth, base of hepatic spine situating at posterior to the anterior edge of carapace 8

• 8a-Distal spine of dactylus of third pereiopod longer than the half length of dactylus proper (excluding spines) 9

• 8b-Distal spine of dactylus of third pereiopod shorter than the half length of dactylus proper (excluding spines) H. jarvinensis

• 9a-Rostrum with postrostral spine, situating at just above the orbit H.caradina

• 9b-Rostrum without postrostral spine, all dorsal spines situating at prior to the orbit H. nanhaiensis sp. nov.

• 10a-Incisor process of mandible with no more than 8 acute teeth 11

• 10b-Incisor process of mandible with 15–17 acute teeth, dactyli of third to fifth pereiopods with 2–3 subdorsal spines H. chacei sp. nov.

• 11a-Unpigmented part of eyestalk 3 times as long as cornea H. acuta

• 11b-Unpigmented part of eyestalk no more than 3 times as long as cornea 12

• 12a-Rostrum without dorsal spine 13

• 12b-Rostrum with dorsal spine 14

• 13a-Apex of the rostrum trifid H. multicolorata

• 13b-Apex of rostrum simple H. australiensis

• 14a-Apex of the Rostrum bifid H. bifidirostris

• 14b-Apex of rostrum simple 15

• 15a-Dactyli of third to fifth pereiopods with three long terminal teeth, distal half of hepatic spine overreaching anterior edge of carapace H. ngi

• 15b-Dactyli of third to fifth pereiopods with two terminal teeth, hepatic spine slightly overreaching anterior edge of carapaceH. ventricosa sensu lato