Redescription of <i>Lysmata intermedia</i> (Kingsley, 1879) based on topotypical specimens, with remarks on <i>Lysmata seticaudata</i> (Risso, 1816) (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae)

In older literature, it has been claimed that the West Indian shrimp Lysmata intermedia also exists at Faial Island, in the Azores. It is now demonstrated here that these Azorean records of L. intermedia are actually based on L. seticaudata. Previous confusion probably arose from the very close similarity between the two species. L. intermedia is here redescribed on the basis of topotypical specimens (Dry Tortugas, Florida). It is shown that L. seticaudata displays significant geographical variations, the Atlantic specimens and particularly those of the Azores being more robust than those from the Mediterranean Sea. In L. seticaudata, the number of segments on the accessory branch of the outer antennular flagellum also increases with total body size. A synonymy and a brief account on their geographical distribution and their ecology are given for both species