A new species of mud shrimp, Upogebia toralae, from Veracruz, Mexico (Decapoda : Thalassinidea : Upogebiidae)

Abstract

Upogebia toralae, a new species of mud shrimp from Veracruz, Mexico is described and illustrated. The unique female holotype was collected intertidally in the Port of Veracruz which is strongly impacted by human activity. The species shares with many members of the genus from the western hemisphere a strongly developed proximal mesioventral spine on the merus of the second pereopod. The species stands alone, however, with respect to other characters. The triangular rostrum has no ventral spines, the anterior gastric region bears many anteriorly setose spines that art more or less transversely elongate and scalelike, and the palms of the chelae have a dorsal ridge that bears three erect and somewhat hooked spines on its proximal end.