PARHIPPOLYTE CAVERNICOLA, NEW SPECIES (DECAPODA, CARIDEA, HIPPOLYTIDAE) FROM THE TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC, WITH TAXONOMIC REMARKS ON THE GENERA SOMERSIELLA AND KOROR

A new species of cave shrimp, Parhippolyte cavernicola, is described f rom the Gulf of California, Mexico. This new species closely resembles Somersiella sterreri from the Caribbean and western Atlantic, but is smaller in total length and has a shorter curved rostrum with fewer te eth. Specimens of the new species and S. sterreri from the Bahamas pos sess a podobranch on the second maxilliped, as well as an epipod. Thes e features supposedly are absent in the genus Somersiella, and have be en used to distinguish it from the related genus Parhippolyte. No othe r consistent distinguishing features of habitat, morphology, or color have been noted. Because of the lack of distinguishing features, the g enus Somersiella Hart and Manning is considered to be a junior synonym of Parhippolyte Borradaile. Koror misticius Clark, considered to belo ng to a separate genus allied to Parhippolyte and Somersiella, lacks a ny unique characteristics that can be used to distinguish it as a genu s.