Synalpheus regalis Duffy

Figure 10, Color plate 5B

Material examined. Jamaica: 96 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM3303-05), fore-reef (near M1 channel marker), Discovery Bay, from canals of Hyattella intestinalis . 56 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM4201-03), fore-reef (near M1 channel marker), Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 59 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM4901-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 82 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM5101-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 7 nonovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM5201), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 24 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM5401,02,04), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 59 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM6001-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 66 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM6201-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 265 nonovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM6301-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 202 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM6401-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 6 non-ovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM7601), wall off Rio Bueno, from canals of H. intestinalis . 23 non-ovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM7901), wall off Rio Bueno, from canals of H. intestinalis . 25 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM8601-03), wall off Rio Bueno, from canals of H. intestinalis . 265 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM9101-03), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 29 non-ovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM9201,02), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 88 non-ovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM9301,02), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 31 non-ovigerous individuals, 1 ovigerous female (VIMS 08JAM9401,02), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 10 non-ovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM9501), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . 18 non-ovigerous individuals (VIMS 08JAM9601,02), Columbus Park, Discovery Bay, from canals of H. intestinalis . MaxCL ovigerous female: 4.14 mm. MaxCL non-ovigerous individual: 3.17 mm.

Color. Translucent orange; distal portion of major chela brighter orange; embryos and ovaries pale green.

Hosts and ecology. In Jamaica, we have found S. regalis exclusively in Hyattella intestinalis, typically at depths exceeding 6 m. In Belize, the only other known locality of S. regalis, they are commonly found in Xestospongia spp. in addition to H. intestinalis .

Distribution. Belize (Duffy 1996a, d, Macdonald et al. 2006; Ríos and Duffy 2007); Jamaica (this study).

Remarks. Synalpheus regalis is distinguishable from its close relative, S. elizabethae, by the possession in non-ovigerous colony members of abdominal pleura (pleura 3–5) that are rounded ventrally versus the ventrally pointed pleura possessed by S. elizabethae (Fig. 10). Similarly to the S. elizabethae found here, S. regalis individuals in Jamaica lack a secondary spine on the major chela protuberance (Fig. 10).