A new species of the genus Actinimenes Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, India Author Paramasivam, Purushothaman Author Dhinakaran, A. Author Ajith Kumar, T. T. Author Lal, Kuldeep K. text Nauplius 2022 e 2022008 2022-04-11 30 1 18 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2022008 journal article 10.1590/2358-2936e2022008 2358-2936 10904872 45058CD0-568E-4CEA-A4EE-CE7490617076 Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. ( Figs. 2–6 ) Zoobank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 45058CD0- 568E-4CEA-A4EE-CE7490617076 Material examined . Holotype : ovigerous female (CL3.0 mm; accession no : NBFGR /PALAKOY─01), ID no DBTLDA59 , 10°49’13”N 72°10’07”E , depth 1.0–2.0 m, scoop net , associated with Heteractis magnifica (Quay and Gaimard, 1833) , Agatti Island , Lakshadweep, India , Arabian Sea , on December 2019 . Paratypes : male ( CL 3.2 mm ; accession no : NBFGR /PALAKOY─02), ID no DBTLDA62 , same data as holotype. 1 female and 1male ( CL 2.0– 2.5mm ; accession no : ZSI : C 8867/2), ID no DBTLDA111 A, DBTLDA111 B, 10°49’20”N 72°10’15”E , depth 1.0–2.0 m, scoop net , associated with H. magnifica , Agatti Island , Lakshadweep, India , in March 2020 . 7 females ( CL 1.9–4.2 mm ), ID no DBTLDA60 ─64, DBTLDA66 ─67; 6 males (CL 1.9–3.0 mm), ID no DBTLDA68 ─73, 10°49’13”N 72°10’07”E , depth 1.0–2.0 m, scoop net , associated with H. magnifica , Agatti Island , Lakshadweep, India , in December 2019 . Description . Small-sized palaemonid shrimp, body ( Fig. 2A, B ) usually glabrous. Rostrum ( Fig. 3A, B) well developed, straight or slightly depressed, about 0.65–0.72 times as long as carapace, reaching distal margin of the third antennular peduncle; dorsal margin bearing 5 to 8 acute teeth, slightly decreasing in size, distally with a row of 7–14 long plumose setae on rostrum underneath of each tooth; first dorsal tooth found posterior to posterior orbital margin; ventral margin convex with small ventral tooth at 0.7 of length. Carapace ( Fig. 3A, B ) smooth, glabrous, without epigastric or supraorbital spines; inferior orbital angle well developed, acute in lateral view; antennal spine moderate in size, marginal, found in bottom of inferior orbital angle, slightly exceeding distal end of orbital angle;hepatic spine prominent, smaller than antennal, situated slightly lower than level of antennal spine; anterolateral angle of carapace region simply rounded. Eyes ( Fig.3C )well developed with globular-shaped cornea and distinct accessory pigment spot present posterodorsally; eyestalks almost equal in length to proximal width and slightly swollen proximally. Figure 2. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. from Agatti island, India.( a ) Holotype: ovigerous female (CL 3.5 mm, NBFGR/PALAKOY─01); (b ) paratype, male (CL 3.2 mm, NBFGR: DBTLDA62, Ethanol preserved). Antennular peduncle ( Fig. 3A, E ) reaching distal margin of scaphocerite. Proximal segment broad, thin, about 1.9 times longer than central width; lateral margin barely convex, anterolateral margin produced angular lobate with small acute distolateral tooth, row of plumose long setae on proximal margin; ventral margin with small submedian tooth found at 0.4 the length of segment. Stylocerite well developed, slender, acute reaches near middle of proximal segment. Intermediate segment short, about 1.1 times longer than width with small lateral lobe, 0.78 times as long as distal segments, and together equals 0.66 times of proximal segment length. Antennular f lagellum ( Fig. 3E ) long, tapered; outer f lagellum biramous, proximal three segments of rami fused, shorter free ramus consists of 7 to 8 segments with 12–14 groups of aesthetascs, longer free ramus filiform, with 29–31 segments; inner flagellum slender, filiform, almost equal to outer one with 34–36 segments. Figure 3. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. , from Agatti island, India. A , Carapace of ovigerous female (CL 3.5 mm, NBFGR/PALAKOY─01, lateral view); B , anterior part of male carapace (DBTLDA62, lateral view; C , dorsal view of cornea and eyestalk); D , dorsal view of right scaphocerite; E , dorsal view of antennular peduncle and flagellum; F , left mandible (outer view); G , left maxillula (outer view); H , left maxilla (outer view); I , left first maxilliped (outer view); J , left second maxilliped (outer view). Antenna: basicerite bearing acute distolateral tooth. Ischiocerite and merocerite short. Carpocerite reaching middle of scaphocerite. Scaphocerite ( Fig. 3D ) long with lamella reaching just beyond distal margin of distal antennular peduncle; lateral margin straight, with well-developed distolateral tooth; lamella rounded, about 2.1–2.3 times longer than breadth, with long distal plumose setae, extending beyond the distolateral tooth. Mandible( Fig. 3F ) without palp; the molar process stout, subcylindrical with 2 blunt teeth distally, numerous rows of small stout setae sub-distally; incisor processes short, slightly tapering distally, obliquely truncate, with 5 teeth distally and lateralmost slightly enlarged. Maxillula ( Fig. 3G ) normal form, palp feebly bilobed, outer lobe obscure, inner lobe with few small setae; upper lacinia with 10 stout long spines, several spiniform setae and plumose setae; lower lacinia subcylindrical, tapering distally, with numerous long setae. Maxilla ( Fig. 3H ) with broad scaphognathite, without setae on inner and outer surfaces, anterior lobe wider than posterior with numerous long setae terminally; basal endite bilobed with spine-like long setae distally. First maxilliped ( Fig. 3I )endopodite short, slender, reaching distal margin of basal segment, with single long seta distally. Basal endite broad, rounded with long setae marginally, median margin with slender simple marginal setae. Coxal endite broadly rounded, elevated from basal endite by notch. Flagellum of exopodite well developed with 3 to 4 long plumose distal setae. Caridean lobe well developed; epipod bilobed without setae. Second maxilliped ( Fig. 3J ) dactylus segment narrow, densely fringed with numerous serrulate setae. Propodal segment longer than dactylus, distomedial margin produced, with10 long spiniform setae.Carpus and merus short without setae. Ischium fused with basal segment. Coxal segment triangular-shaped medially with single setae. Exopod slender, with few long plumose setae distally. Third maxilliped ( Fig. 4A ) slender, reaching middle of antennal scaphocerite. Ultimate segment tapering, about 4.0 times longer than proximal width, 0.63 times as long as penultimate segment, with rows of short serrulate setae laterally, numerous longer setae distally. Penultimate segment slender, about 6.5 times longer than maximum width, 0.82 times as long as antepenultimate, with rows of long simple setae laterally. The antepenultimate segment slightly convex, about 4.5 times as long as proximal width. Coxa with small rounded epipod. Exopod slender, reaching distal end of antepenultimate segment, with few plumose setae distally. First pereopod ( Fig. 4B ) slender, extended beyond the distal end of scaphocerite by chela; fingers slender, sub-equal, concave, dactylus about 1.3–1.4 times longer than palm length, with small hooked terminal tooth, with numerous long setae; fixed finger with 6 to 7 groups serrulate setae on dorsal side. Palm short, sub-cylindrical, proximal region with row of setae. Carpus sub-cylindrical, about 4.6 times long as distal width, 2.9–3.0 times longer than palm, with distoventral cleaning setae. Merus cylindrical, about 0.9–0.95 times as long as carpus, 5.2 times longer than maximum width. Ischium equal to basis, about 0.35 times of merus length. Coxa with small setae on the medial process. Second pereopod: major and minor chelipeds ( Fig. 4C, D ) well developed, similar, barely unequal in length, overreaching beyond the distal margin of antennular peduncle by length of chela.Major cheliped ( Fig. 4C, C 1 , C 2 ): fingers slender, less than half of palm length (0.45–0.47times);dactylus slender, about 3.8 times as long as proximal depth, slowly tapering distally with stout terminal tooth, proximal half with 2 acute teeth, distal half of cutting edge concave, with numerous long setae; fixed finger with 4 to 5 teeth proximally, distal half concave with terminal tooth, with numerous long setae. Palm sub-cylindrical, about 2.9–3.0 times longer than maximum width. Carpus short, stout, about 1.1–1.3 times as long as distal width, tapering proximally, unarmed. Merus cylindrical, uniform, unarmed, about 2.1 times as long as carpus, 4.5 times as long as wide. Ischium with 0.7–0.78 times as long as merus, 0.45 times of palm length. Minor cheliped ( Fig. 4D ): fingers slender, less than half of palm length (0.50–0.51 times); dactylus slender, about 4.5 times as long as proximal depth, slowly tapering distally with stout terminal tooth, sub-proximal half with 2 acute teeth. Carpus, merus, and ischium similar with major cheliped. Figure 4. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. paratype, male, (CL 3.2 mm), NBFGR: DBTLDA62. A , Left third maxilliped (outer view); B , left first pereopod (lateral view); C , major second pereopod (left, lateral view); C1 , lateral view of major chela of the second pereopod; C2 , dorsal view of major chela of same; D , minor second pereopod, right (lateral view); E , left third pereopod (lateral view); F , right fourth pereopod (lateral view); G , right fifth pereopod (lateral view). Ambulatory pereopods( Fig.4E–G ): slender,similar in structure,and moderately long.Third pereopod ( Fig. 4E ) extending beyond distal margin of scaphocerite by length of dactylus; dactylus acute, slender, about 0.28 times propodus length, 2.1 times as long as proximal width, with curved unguis, terminal end sharp with numerous long setae ( Fig. 5B ). Propodus about 5.5 times as long as width, with numerous short and long setae distally. Carpus, merus, and ischium are about 0.60, 1.17,and0.55 times propodus length, respectively. Fourth pereopod( Fig.4F )and fifth pereopod( Fig.4G ) slightly longer than third; dactylus about 0.25 times as long as propodus, 2.1 times longer than proximal width; propodus about 6.4 times as long as wide; carpus, merus, and ischium about 0.52, 1.06, and 0.55 times propodus length, respectively. Fourth thoracic sternite ( Fig. 5A ) with angular broad lateral ridges and “ V ”-shaped median notch. First pleopods: exopod broad, outer margin fringed with long setae; endopod short, about 0.38 times as long as exopod, lateral border with row of 9 plumose setae. Male second pleopod with appendix masculina short and stout, reaching middle of exopod, distal outer margin fringed with few long setae; exopod broad, outer margin with long setae. Abdominal segments( Fig.2A,B )smooth,glabrous, about 2.8 times as long as carapace; third abdominal tergite not produced in entire posterior margin. Fourth and fifth abdominal segments posterior-dorsally rounded; sixth abdominal segment elongate, about 1.6 times as long as fifth, produced barely pointed posteroventral angle, posterolateral angle acute. Pleura of first to fifth abdominal segments broadly rounded; fourth and fifth slightly produced posteriorly and rounded. Figure 5. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. holotype, ovigerous female, CL 3.5 mm, NBFGR/PALAKOY – 01. A , Fourth sternal plate with median incision (inner view); B, left dactylus of the third pereopod (closer view); C , dorsal view of telson with uropod; D , posterior end of telson (closer view). Telson ( Fig. 5C, D ) slender, about 1.5 times as long as sixth abdominal segment, 3.5 times longer than anterior width, with 2 pairs of movable, well-developed dorsal spines appearing at 0.25 and 0.6 of telson length. Posterior margin triangular-shaped, 0.30 times anterior width, with 3 pairs of spines; lateral spine short and subequal to dorsal spines; intermediate spines well developed, slender, about 0.16 times telson length, 1.6 times length of submedian spines.Uropods exceeding length of telson; exopod slightly longer than endopod, about 2.25 times as long as width, with small fixed distolateral tooth; endopod with leaf-like structure, outer and inner margin bearing long setae. Coloration in life . Body and appendages are transparent or pale brownish ( Fig.6 ). Hepatic pancreas and cardiac regions visible as pale orange through integument. Abdominal segments and telson are almost fully translucent without any spots. Eyes are greenish with a dark mark posterior-dorsally. Distribution and habitat . Presently known from the coral atolls of Agatti Island (near Kalpetti Island), Lakshadweep , India . The specimen A. koyas sp. nov. was found in two locations at the sampling site. This species was seen in association with the magnificent sea anemone H. magnifica , assemblages ( Fig. 6 )belonging to the order Actiniaria , which is widely distributed in the Lakshadweep islands. It was noticed that the shrimp mostly appeared in between the tentacles of the sea anemone, where they can easily hide from predators. The aggregations of shrimps on the sea anemone were typically observed in the daytime only. We recorded a salinity of 34 ppt and a temperature of 26 °C at the sampling locations. It was observed that several peacock-tail anemone shrimp A. brevicarpalis and marbled shrimp Saron marmoratus (Olivier, 1811) were also found in the same collection site. However, A. koyas sp. nov. was the dominant (~93 %) species group on the sea anemone assemblage. The faunal assemblage and habitat of A. koyas sp. nov. were documented as a video (https://youtu.be/ jb9DmGSRn_o). Further, ornamental fishes were also noticed in the collection site such as the swallowtail cardinalfish, Verulux cypselurus (Weber, 1909) ; bluespotted cardinalfish, Apogon apogonides (Bleeker, 1856) ; Kashmir snapper, Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775) ; three spot damsel, Dascyllus trimaculatus (Rüppell, 1829) ; cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes 1839) ; blue-green damsel, Chromis viridis (Cuvier, 1830) ; scarlet soldierfish, Myripristis pralinia Cuvier, 1829 ;twinspot damselfish, Chrysiptera biocellata (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) ; moon wrasse, Thalassoma lunare (Linnaeus, 1758) ; black streak surgeon, Acanthurus nigricauda Duncker and Mohr, 1929 ; and Maldive anemonefish, Amphiprion nigripes Regan, 1908 . Figure 6. Collection site, assemblages of Heteractis magnifica at Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India with live coloration of Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. (Depth 1 – 2 m). Etymology . Koyas are an important ethnic community of Lakshadweep . Koyas have made a significant contribution to the development and preservation of the heritage of the society at Lakshadweep . The present species is named “Koyas ” to honor the local community at Lakshadweep . DNA barcodes . COI and 16S sequences from the holotype and paratype , and A. inornatus were obtained and submitted to GenBank ( Tab. 1 ). Remarks . Generally, shrimps in the genus Actinimenes are associated with sea anemones and commonly distributed in Indo-West Pacific regions ( Kemp,1922 ; Bruce, 1969 ; 1976 ; 1979 ; 1980 ; Miyake and Fujino, 1968 ; Suzuki and Hayashi, 1977 ; Fransen, 1989 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. is the fourth species in the genus and has the following morphological characters similar to the three existing species in the genus ( Tab. 2 ): (i) rostrum reaching or exceeding the antennular peduncles; (ii) rostral formula: 5–10 in dorsal and 0–2 teeth in ventral; (iii) antennal spine acute or only minutely produced; (iv) shorter free ramus of the outer antennular f lagellum with 7–8 segments and 8–14 groups of aesthetascs; (v) the fourth thoracic sternal plate produced anteriorly with a “U” or “ V ”-shaped median, narrow and deep notch; (vi) first pereopod: length ratio of finger and palm is1.0–1.4 times, length ratio of carpus and palm is 1.2 to 3.0 times; (vii) second pereopod merus is 0.66–0.75 times as long as palm; (viii) the dactylus of ambulatory pereopods have minute spinulate or simple structure around the base of unguis ( Bruce, 2010 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. showed some remarkable morphological differences between the sexes: the rostrum of the male is mostly horizontal and reaches the distal end of the antennular peduncle ( Fig. 3B ), whereas in the female the rostrum is slightly depressed and barely reaches the distal end of the antennular peduncle ( Fig. 3A ). The range of the rostral dorsal teeth is five to seven for males and eight for females. The inferior orbital angle of the male is slightly wider than in females; five to six cleaning setae are present on the distoventral region of carpus of the first pereopod for males and six to eight are present in females. Among the three allied species, A. ornatellus is morphologically most similar to A. koyas sp. nov. by the shape of the rostrum; general appearance of the hepatic spine on the carapace; and the length ratio and width of the scaphocerite ( Tab. 2 ). In both species, the stylocerite is slender and reaches near the middle of the first antennular segment; the first pereopods have subspatulate fingers; there is dentition on the chela of the second pereopod; and the telson has two pairs of dorsal and three pairs of posterior spines. However, A. koyas sp. nov. differs from A. ornatellus (summarized in Tab. 2 ) by having biramous outer antennular flagellum with proximal three segments of rami fused ( vs. four in A. ornatellus ); a shorter free ramus consisting of seven to eight segments with 12–14 groups of aesthetascs ( vs. shorter free ramus with only four segments and eight to nine groups of aesthetascs in A. ornatellus ); the length of the telson is 3.5 times longer than anterior width (2.4 times for A. ornatellus ); fourth thoracic sternite with V-shaped median incision ( vs. U-shaped for A. ornatellus );third maxilliped penultimate segment 0.82 times as long as antepenultimate (0.75 times as long in A. ornatellus ); and dactylus of ambulatory pereopods are without spinulation on the base of unguis(spinulated minutely in A. ornatellus ) ( Bruce, 1979 ; 2010 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). Consequently, A. ornatellus was reported only from the Marshall Islands and Heron Island ( Bruce, 1977 ; 2010 ). Table 2. Comparison of morphological features of Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. and other Actinimenes spp. : Anp – Antennular peduncle and TeL – Telson length.

S. No.	Characters	Actinimenes inornatus ( Kemp, 1922 )	Actinimenes ornatellus ( Bruce, 1979 )	Actinimenes ornatus ( Bruce, 1969 )	Actinimenes koyas sp. nov.
1	Rostrum	Little beyond Anp	Exceed Anp	Equal to Anp	Equal to Anp
2	Rostral formula (dorsal/ventral)	6─8 0─2	7─10 1─2	7 1	5─8 1
3	Inferior orbital angle	Round lobe, slightly pointed	Acute, without lower border	Minutely produced	Produced, angular
4	Antennal spine	Slender, marginal	Acute and sub-marginal	Slender, marginal	Moderate size, marginal
5	Hepatic spine	Situated behind the level of antennal spine	Robust, slightly lower level of antennal spine	Robust, distinctly lower level of antennal spine	Prominent, slightly lower level of antennal spine
6	Scaphocerite (Length: width)	2.25 times	2.3 times	2.3 times	2.1─2.3 times
7	Antennular flagellum (outer)	Biramous, proximal 3 segments fused, shorter free ramus with 3 segments and 8 groups of aesthetascs	Biramous,proximal 4 segments fused, shorter free ramus with 4 segments and 8─9 groups of aesthetascs	Biramous, proximal 4 segments fused, shorter free ramus with 4 segments 7 groups of aesthetascs	Biramous, proximal 3 segments fused, shorter free ramus with 7─8 segments and 12─14 groups of aesthetascs
8	TeL: 6th somite a. TeL: Anterior width	1.33 times 2.8 times	1.4 times 2.4 times	1.5 times 2.9 times	1.5 times 3.5 times
9	4th sternal plate	Broad, low transverse ridge with an open median notch	Strongly elevated with a faint median notch	Centrally elongated transverse ridge with a deep close median notch	Angular, broad lateral ridges with ‘V’ shaped median notch
10	1st pereopod a. Fingers: palm b. Carpus: palm c. Merus: carpus	1.1 times 2.8 times Equal	1.2 times 2.5 times Sub-equal	Sub-equal 2.7 times Sub-equal	1.3─1.4 times 2.9─3.0 times 0.9─0.95 times
11	2nd pereopod a. Fingers: palm b. Carpus: palm c. Merus: palm	≤ 0.5 times 0.35 times 0.71 times	≥0.5 times 0.22 times 0.75 times	>0.5 times 0.25 times 0.72 times	0.45─0.47 times 0.33 times 0.7 times
12	3rd – 5th pereopods a.Dactylus length: width b. Dactylus:propodus	2.6 times 0.20 times	3.0 times 0.25 times	3.2 times 0.24 times	2.1─2.5 times 0.25─0.28 times
13	Type locality	Port Blair, Andaman	Eniwetok Atoll,Marshall Islands	Lung Ha Wan, Hong Kong	Agatti Island, Lakshadweep
14	Associated with	Discosoma	Heteractis malu (formerly Radianthus malu )	Actiniarian	Heteractis magnifica
15	Depth	Shallow	1.0─2.0 m	3.6 m	1.0─2.0 m

Further, A. ornatus and A. inornatus are similar to A. koyas sp. nov. with characters like a marginal antennal slender spine; hepatic spine appears nearly behind the level of antennal spine; and the dactylus of ambulatory pereopods is slender and smooth. However, A. ornatus differs from the new species in the presence of a fourth thoracic sternite with a centrally elongated transverse ridge with a deep median notch ( vs. angular broad lateral ridges in A. koyas sp. nov. ). Actinimenes ornatus is known from the Pacific Ocean: Hong Kong ( Bruce, 1969 ; 1979 ), Japan ( Suzuki and Hayashi, 1977 ), Eniwetok Atoll, the Marshall Islands ( Bruce, 1979 ), Indonesia , Korea , the Red Sea ( Bruce and Svoboda, 1983 ), Kenya , and Vietnam ( Marin, 2006 ; Lee and Ko, 2011 ). Similarly, A. inornatus varied from A. koyas sp.nov. by having a broad low transverse ridge, with an open median notch in the fourth thoracic sternite (angular broad lateral ridges with deep median incision in A. koyas sp. nov. ) ( Fransen, 1989 ; Bruce, 2010 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). Actinimenes inornatus is widely distributed in Kenya ( Bruce, 1976 ), Grand Comoro Island near Madagascar ( Bruce, 1971 ), Seychelles Islands( Bruce, 1971 ; 1976 ),Andaman Islands( Kemp, 1922 ), Maldives and Laccadive Islands , Bay of Bengal, Mariana Island ( Bruce, 1976 ; 1984 ), Heron Island ( Bruce, 2010 ), Ryukyu Islands, Indonesia , South China Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji , and Caroline Islands ( Chace and Bruce, 1993 ). Color patterns are one of the important taxonomic characters for palaemonid shrimps and are mostly species-specific for the Actinimenes group ( Fransen, 1989 ; Ďuriš, 2017 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). The coloration of A. koyas sp. nov. is similar to that of A. inornatus and A. ornatellus , where the carapace, rostrum, and abdominal region have a transparent and faint brownish color. However, A. inornatus and A. ornatellus are distinguished from A. koyas sp. nov. by the presence of a broad dorsal white band on the eyestalks, cardiac region, and presence of a broad medial ventral white band extended longitudinally from the posterior end of the stomach to the anterior end of the fifth abdominal segment (absent on A. koyas sp. nov. ) ( Bruce, 1979 ; Fransen, 1989 ; Salvat and Bacchet, 2011 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). Actinimenes ornatu s differs from A. inornatus , A. ornatellus , and A. koyas sp. nov. by having finely striated, longitudinally and alternating rows of minute red and white chromatophores extended over the pleura, the antennal peduncles and scaphocerite with purple and white spots (especially along the dorsum of the eyestalk and across the ophthalmic somite) transparent pereopods and uropods with numerous paired purple and whitish chromatophores ( Bruce, 1979 ; Fransen, 1989 ; Lee and Ko, 2011 ). Host range . Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. was found with the magnificent sea anemone, H. magnifica along with another anemone-associated shrimp A. brevicarpalis in the Agatti Island of Lakshadweep at a depth of 1– 2 m. Similarly, A. inornatus was observed on Discosoma sp. with A. brevicarpalis and occurred with H. magnifica , Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) , Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander, 1786) , Seriatopora hystrix Dana, 1846 , Stylophora pistillata (Esper, 1792) , and Acropora spp. (see Patton, 1966 ; Fransen, 1989 ). Actinemenes ornatus specimens were noticed from the actinian sea anemones: Heteractis crispa (Hemprich and Ehrenberg in Ehrenberg, 1834), H. magnifica , H. malu , Entacmaea actinostoloides (Leuckart in Rüppell and Leuckart, 1828), Entacmaea spp. , Gyrostoma sp. , Parasicyonis actinostoloides (Wassilieff, 1908) , Parasicyonis maxima (Wassilieff, 1908) , and Cryptodendrum adhaesivum (Klunzinger, 1877) (see Bruce, 1979 ; Suzuki and Hayashi, 1977 ; Marin et al. , 2004 ). Actinimenes ornatellus was only found on H. malu . According to earlier reports, the species of the genus Actinimenes are generalist symbionts, inhabiting a significant number of hosts. In the molecular analysis, the ML tree was reconstructed using the mitochondrial COI gene ( Fig. 7A ), which revealed that A. koyas sp. nov. forms a monophyletic clade and has a close relationship to A. inornatus and A. ornatus , with significant nodal support (bootstrap values 72 %and 99 %respectively). The sequences of Zenopontonia rex ( Kemp,1922 ) and A. brevicarpalis were used as the outgroup species ( Gan et al., 2016 ; Horká et al., 2016 ; 2018 ). Similarly, the tree topology of 16S gene sequences showed similar clade patterns for A. koyas sp. nov. and other Actinimenes species ( Fig. 7B ). Unfortunately, COI and 16S sequences are not available for A. ornatellus in GenBank.The genetic divergence between A. koyas sp. nov. and the other species of Actinimenes ranged from 15.7 to 18.7% for COI ( Tab.3 ) and 1.2 to 6.5% for 16S ( Tab. 4 ). These high genetic differences are generally considered species-specific for decapod crustaceans ( Malay and Paulay, 2010 , Komai and Tsuchida, 2015 ; Chakraborty et al., 2015 ; Purushothaman et al., 2019 ). The present molecular analyses are strongly supported by the morphological identification of A. koyas sp. nov. from Lakshadweep , India .Furthermore, A. koyas sp. nov. differs considerably both in morphological traits and coloration from its sister species. These sea anemone-associated shrimps exhibit remarkable color patterns; A. inornatus and A. ornatellus have eyestalks with a broad dorsal white band and A. ornatu s has minute red and white chromatophores on the body ( Bruce,1979 ; Fransen, 1989 ; Lee and Ko, 2011 ; Salvat and Bacchet, 2011 ; Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 ). The color patterns of the new species are rather dull and without band patterns. Furthermore, A. koyas sp. nov. showed significant differences with A. inornatus , A. ornatellus , and A. ornatu s in morphological characters related to the antennular f lagellum, sternal plate, and length of pereopods ( Tab. 2 ).