Synalpheus cf. fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909

Material examined (N= 1). 1 f, 06–07/VI/ 2000 (MZUESC # 637).

Distribution. Western Atlantic – Bermuda, Carolinas, Florida, northern Gulf of Mexico (Texas), Mexico (Veracruz, Quintana Roo), Colombia (Providencia), Antilles, Venezuela, and Brazil (Pernambuco to Santa Catarina) (Christoffersen 1979; 1998). Central Atlantic – Santa Helena Island, St Paul’s Rocks (Holthuis et al. 1980), Ascension Island (Manning & Chace 1990). Records from the eastern Pacific (e.g., Tres Marías Archipelago, Mexico) refer to other species (A. Anker, personal communication).

Ecological notes. In sponges, among ascidians and Zoanthus colonies, gorgonians, mangrove roots, among Halimeda clumps, calcareous algae, Schizoporella and Phragmatopoma colonies, corals, rock cavities, calcareous rocks. Intertidal to 75 m (Christoffersen 1979).

Previous records in Bahia. Coutière (1909), Christoffersen (1979), Almeida et al. (2006).

Remarks. Possible species complex, with several species in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific (A. Anker, personal communication). The identity of the Brazilian material requires confirmation.