A new atyid genus and species from Madagascar (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea)

The caridean family Atyidae is currently known by 29 species in Madagascar, which are found throughout riverine habitats, caves and swamps. The present study describes a new genus and species from a mountain stream in the Ranomafana National Park, South East Madagascar. The new genus is characterised by possessing a short unarmed rostrum, absence of teeth on the carapace, the carpus of the second pereiopod being elongated with an anterior excavation, all pereiopods with exopods (fifth vestigial or reduced), the presence of a single uropodal diaeresis spine, a long appendix masculina armed with numerous spiniform setae on the second male pleopod and in carrying 11-14 eggs of 1.4-1.5 x 1.00-1.1mm in size.