Shane Ahyong

Australian Museum · Marine Invertebrates

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) started in 2007 with the question “how many species live in our oceans?”. Now, a little over 15 years later, WoRMS is able to answer several questions related to marine species discovery rates and provides a dynamic number of existing marine species, based on the information provided by hundreds of taxon...

The methane seeps on the Pacific margin of Costa Rica support extensive animal diversity and offer insights into deep-sea biogeography and phylogeography. During five expeditions between 2009 and 2019, we conducted intensive faunal sampling via 63 submersible dives to 11 localities at depths of 300-3600 m. Based on these expeditions and published l...

Nepinnotheres villosulus (Guérin-Méneville, 1832) [Guérin-Méneville, 1829–1837] [type locality: Timor] and Nepinnotheres edwardsi (De Man, 1887) [type locality: Mergui Archipelago], as currently understood, are both reportedly widespread in Southeast Asia and northern Australia, and unique in the genus in having females densely covered by a setal t...

Prior to the present study, 11 genera and 16 species of pinnotherid crabs were known from Australia, of which two species of the genus Arcotheres were recorded: Arcotheres boninensis and A. similis . The current study extends our knowledge of Australian Arcotheres in a species new to science, significant range extensions for A. boninensis in Austra...

A new genus and species of lysiosquilloid mantis shrimp is described from Australia and Japan. It is unique in Stomatopoda by its unusual telson ornamentation in which the short intermediate and lateral primary teeth, accompanied by a row of short, graded serrations inward of the intermediate teeth, partially overhang a row of minute submarginal de...

A new miniature species of freshwater crab from the genus Tiwaripotamon Bott, 1970 (Potamidae), is described from a montane karst area in southern Napo, at the China-Vietnam border. It is the twelfth known species of the genus, and is also the smallest known, with the largest adult specimen observed barely exceeding 20 mm in carapace width. Apart f...

A new species of the pinnotherid crab genus Ostracotheres H. Milne Edwards, 1853 described from Singapore and Indonesia is the third species in the genus, previously represented by O. cynthiae Nobili, 1906 and O. tridacnae (Rüppell, 1830) (type species), both known only from the Red Sea and western Gulf of Aden. Therefore, the new species represent...

Jellyfish populations experience fluctuations referred to as ‘bloom and busts’, with numbers rapidly increasing followed by their sudden disappearance. When jellyfish numbers are blooming, they have a complicated relationship with their surrounding environment (predators, competitors, but also a food source), and with humans (sting swimmers, but al...

The pea crab, Pinnotheres onychodactylus Tesch, 1918, is only known on the basis of the types collected from the Moluccas, Indonesia. A re-examination of the type specimens shows that the species is actually a junior subjective synonym of Magnotheres globosus (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846), a widely distributed Indo-West Pacific species associated wit...

For much of terrestrial biodiversity, the evolutionary pathways of adaptation from marine ancestors are poorly understood, and have usually been viewed as a binary trait. True crabs, the decapod crustacean infraorder Brachyura, comprise over 7,600 species representing a striking diversity of morphology and ecology, including repeated adaptation to...

For much of terrestrial biodiversity, the evolutionary pathways of adaptation from marine ancestors are poorly understood, and have usually been viewed as a binary trait. True crabs, the decapod crustacean infraorder Brachyura, comprise over 7,600 species representing a striking diversity of morphology and ecology, including repeated adaptation to...

The crustacean order Stomatopoda comprises approximately 500 species of mantis shrimps. These marine predators, common in tropical and subtropical waters, possess sophisticated visual systems and specialized hunting appendages. In this study, we infer the evolutionary relationships within Stomatopoda using a combined data set of 77 morphological ch...

Modern advances in DNA sequencing hold the promise of facilitating descriptions of new organisms at ever finer precision but have come with challenges as the major Codes of bionomenclature contain poorly defined requirements for species and subspecies diagnoses (henceforth, species diagnoses), which is particularly problematic for DNA-based taxonom...

A new assessment of the global biodiversity of decapod Crustacea (to 31 December 2022) records 17,229 species in 2,550 genera and 203 families. These figures are derived from a well-curated dataset maintained on the online platform DecaNet, a subsidiary of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Distinct phases are recognised in the discovery...

The pea crabs, superfamily Pinnotheroidea, are exceptional among brachyuran crabs in their diverse symbiotic associations involving both inquilinism and protective symbiosis. While this group presents a rare opportunity for evolutionary comparative study of host switching and morphological evolution in marine macroinvertebrates, previous phylogenet...

We present the first complete mitochondrial genomes for Anaspidacea by sequencing 24 specimens from 12 different species in four genera (AnaspidesThomson, 1894; ParanaspidesSmith, 1908; AllanaspidesSwain, Wilson, Hickman & Ong, 1970; and MicraspidesNicholls, 1931). We recovered 20 complete (13 protein coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 trans...

Catastrophic megafires can increase extinction risks; identifying species priorities for management and policy support is critical for preparing and responding to future fires. However, empirical data on population loss and recovery post-fire, especially megafire, are limited and taxonomically biased. These gaps could be bridged if species' morphol...

The poorly known brachyuran crab, Pronotonyx laevis Ward, 1936, from northern Australia, is redescribed based on type and other material. We document adults of both sexes and confirm the taxonomic placement of the Pronotonyx in the Pilumnidae. Pronotonyx is most similar to the Australian Pseudocryptocoeloma parvum Ward, 1936, differing in features...

Species of the genus Anaspides, known as mountain shrimps, are endemic to Tasmania and inhabit a variety of freshwater habitats such as mountain tarns, pools, creeks and runnels, as well as caves. Until 2015 only two species of Tasmanian mountain shrimps were recognized, A. tasmaniae (Thomson, 1893), which was believed to be widespread all over the...

Decapod crustaceans, shrimps, crabs, prawns and their allies are highly visible and important members of marine environments. They are among the most charismatic of marine animals, inhabiting beaches, rocky shores and the deep sea, hiding under stones, burrowing in the sediment and nestling in among algae and many other microhabitats. However, most...

Mantis shrimps (Stomatopoda Latreille, 1817) are marine predatory crustaceans of the group Hoplocarida Calman, 1904 with an interesting, though incompletely known, evolutionary history. Here we introduce a new species of fossil mantis shrimps, Ostenosculda teruzzii n. gen., n. sp. from the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) limestone formation of Osteno (...

The Giant Sydney Crayfish (Euastacus spinifer (Heller, 1865)) was thought to have a wide range in New South Wales, Australia, spanning some 600 km north–south. A recent extensive molecular phylogenetic and population genomic analysis of E. spinifer across its geographical range revealed strong population structure corresponding to several major geo...

For much of terrestrial biodiversity, the evolutionary pathways of adaptation from marine ancestors are poorly understood, and have usually been viewed as a binary trait. True crabs, the decapod crustacean infraorder Brachyura, comprise over 7,600 species representing a striking diversity of morphology and ecology, including repeated adaptation to...

Estimating stomatopod species diversity using morphology alone has long been difficult; though over 450 species have been described, new species are still being discovered regularly despite the cryptic behaviors of adults. However, the larvae of stomatopods are more easily obtained due to their pelagic habitat, and have been the focus of recent stu...

The crabs collected by the RV Hakuhō Maru (KH-72-1 cruise) in the South China Sea are recorded as the fourth part following the previous three parts of the series (Sulu Sea and Sibutu Passage, Timor Sea, and Sahul Shelf). They are mostly shallow water inhabitants, representing 35 species of 31 genera in 13 families, with two new species of the fam...

Unravelling the evolutionary history of taxa requires solid delimitation of the traits characterising these. This can be challenging especially in groups with a highly complex taxonomy. The squat lobster family Munididae contains more than 450 species distributed among 21 genera, Munida being the most speciose (~300 species). Previous phylogenetic...

Prior to the present study, five species in four genera of the mantis shrimp superfamily Gonodactyloidea were known from Lord Howe Island, Australia. The 2017 Australian Museum expedition to Lord Howe Island made a small but significant collection of stomatopods, comprising four species: Chorisquilla tweediei (Serène, 1950), Gonodactylaceus falcatu...

Australia is home to over 140 species of freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Parastacidae), representing a centre of diversity for this group in the Southern Hemisphere. Species delimitation in freshwater crayfish is difficult because many species show significant variation in colouration and morphology. This is particularly evident in the genus Euastac...

Upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea spp.) are predominantly tropical, but there have been recent reports of medusae in temperate environments. In 2017 they were recorded in temperate Lake Macquarie, Australia, where they have a tendency to disappear from this area through late winter (Austral, August). This raises questions about the role of temperatu...

The crabs collected from the Sahul Shelf, in the Australian part of the Timor Sea by the RV Hakuhō Maru (KH-72-1 cruise) are identified and recorded, with some taxonomic comments. They are referred to 40 species of 29 genera in 10 families, including 2 new majoid species, Naxioides sahulensis sp. nov. (Epialtidae) and Prismatopus peterngi sp. nov....

To assist with management and conservation, the Action Plan compiles existing knowledge on taxonomy, conservation status, description, cultural significance, distribution and habitat, biology and ecology as well as threats, conservation priorities and knowledge gaps for each priority Euastacus

The mantis shrimp family Lysiosquillidae includes the largest known stomatopods and presently includes three genera: Lysiosquilla Dana, 1852, Lysiosquillina Manning, 1995, and Lysiosquilloides Manning, 1977. Since 1995, new species assigned to all three lysiosquilloid genera have been recognised: Lysiosquilla manningi Boyko, 2000, Lysiosquillina li...

The brachyuran crab Pseudorhombila haswelli Miers, 1884, described on the basis of two juveniles from the Arafura Sea, is a poorly known species of uncertain systematic position. It was made the type and only species of Homoioplax Rathbun, 1914, and assigned to the Prionoplacinae (Goneplacidae). Subsequent revisions of the goneplacids showed Priono...

The exceptional hidden diversity included in the squat lobster genus Phylladiorhynchus and its wide bathymetric and geographic range make it an interesting group to thoroughly study its evolutionary history. Here we have analyzed the entire currently known species diversity of Phylladiorhynchus using an integrative approach that includes morphologi...

Aim After environmental disasters, species with large population losses may need urgent protection to prevent extinction and support recovery. Following the 2019–2020 Australian megafires, we estimated population losses and recovery in fire‐affected fauna, to inform conservation status assessments and management. Location Temperate and subtropical...

The present study is the second part of a series of reports on the crabs collected by the KH-72-1 cruise of the RV Hakuhō Maru from the seas of East and Southeast Asia. In this report, 16 species of 14 genera in 10 families of the crabs collected in the depths of the Timor Sea, 295–690 m, are recorded. There were no species common to the Sulu Sea...

Peppermint shrimp resembling Lysmata vittata Stimpson, 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 terminol...

Upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) are mostly sedentary, benthic jellyfish that have invaded estuarine ecosystems around the world. Monitoring the spread of this invasive jellyfish must contend with high spatial and temporal variability in abundance of individuals, especially around their invasion front. Here, we evaluated the utility of drones...

The present study, forming part of a multi-faceted project initiated in response to the anticipated bushfire impact, is the most comprehensive molecular taxonomic analyses conducted on Euastacus to date. It utilised targeted field collection and took advantage of existing curated sample collections to assemble a comprehensive crayfish tissue collec...

This study reports on new squat lobsters of the genus Munida collected during recent surveys of Australia’s continental margins. We report on 33 species of Munida including seven new species and 14 new range extensions for Australia. More than 500 specimens were collected, mostly from the western continental margin of Australia, but also including...

Aim The incidence of major fires is increasing globally, creating extraordinary challenges for governments, managers and conservation scientists. In 2019–2020, Australia experienced precedent‐setting fires that burned over several months, affecting seven states and territories and causing massive biodiversity loss. Whilst the fires were still burni...

The coastal marine environments in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone harbour a rich diversity of mantis shrimps. However, several regions have not been adequately surveyed for their stomatopod faunal composition. In this paper, we report the first records of two species, Gonodactylopsis drepanophora (de Man, 1902) and Cloridina malaccensis (Mannin...

Many species of the gastropod genus Philine have been named from northeastern Asia but scanty descriptions based predominantly on shells make it difficult to determine which are valid. This, plus the sporadic anatomical and genetic information available for many of these species has led to what may be described as an un-integrated taxonomy. In this...

The French carcinologist and oceanographer Alain Crosnier (1930–2021) had a most influential role in modern carcinology. This tribute reviews his contributions to organising oceanographic expeditions; expanding collections of specimens, particularly from the deep sea; and supporting international collaboration for taxonomic investigations of the ri...

New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally naming and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a 'new quality of performance'. Its limitations are discussed fro...

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New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally nam-ing and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a "new quality of performance". Its limitations are discussed fr...

Guerra-García & Ahyong (2020) erected the genus Pseudoliropus (type species Pseudoliropus keablei Guerra-García & Ahyong, 2020) for a new species of caprellid amphipod from southern Australia. Shortly after publication the authors became aware that the genus name was preoccupied by the little known, caprellid Pseudoliropus Laubitz, 1970 (type speci...

The iconic ‘mountain shrimps’ of the genus Anaspides Thomson, 1894, are endemic to Tasmania, inhabiting various freshwater habitats such as mountain tarns and creeks, as well as streams inside caves. They are often labelled as ‘living fossils’ because of their close resemblance to their Triassic relatives. Prior to 2015, only two species were recog...

Uniting arthropods and the deep sea as a research focus allows us to combine the largest habitat on Earth with the most abundant and successful animal group on our planet. To set the stage for this volume, we briefly introduce the deep-sea environment, the history of its exploration and gaps in our knowledge in terms of global distributions of biod...

We report the mitochondrial genome of Sabella spallanzanii, an invasive Mediterranean sabellid introduced to Australia and New Zealand. The mitogenome is 15,581 bp long and consists of 38 genes, including 13 protein coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 23 tRNA genes. It shows deviations from the putative annelid ground pattern, such as gene order re-a...

Pelagic biofoulers such as barnacles or bryozoans settle and raft on natural debris like pumice or seeds. Recent influxes of marine debris into the world’s oceans, especially plastic, have increased habitat availability for these biofoulers. Goose barnacles in the genus Lepas are some of the most common biofouling taxa globally, and play an importa...

A new genus and new species of blind freshwater cave crab are described from Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China based on morphology and mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences. The new genus, Phasmon gen. nov., is established for P. typhlops sp. nov., which is only the second blind cave crab known from China and East Asia. The combinat...

The poorly known genus Lacunipotamon Dai, Song, He, Cao, Xu & Zhong, 1975, is studied and reviewed. Two new species, Lacunipotamon yuanshi sp. nov. and Lacunipotamon cymatile sp. nov. from Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, respectively, are described based on morphology and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequ...

Prior to the present study, the mantis shrimp superfamily Eurysquilloidea Manning, 1977, with the single family Eurysquillidae Manning, 1977, contained six genera and 32 species, most of which occur in the Indo-West Pacific. A new genus and species of eurysquilloid, Liusquilla taiwanica , recently discovered off southeastern Taiwan, is described he...