Abstract |
In a previous phylogenetic analysis of numerous species of the genus Munida and related genera from the West Pacific based on molecular
and morphological data, the monophyly of this group with the exception of M. callista was established. Morphologically, M. callista
is closely related to M. brucei, M. javieri, M. hystrix and M. plexaura showing morphological differences in the shape of the rostrum, the
supraocular spines, and the ridges on the epistome with respect to the genus Munida. Moreover, the analysis of the mitochondrial genes
16S rRNA and COI showed an independent and monophyletic lineage from the genus Munida. Therefore a new genus, Babamunida, is
proposed to accommodate these five species, based on morphological characters and molecular data. |