DNA barcoding allows identification of undescribed crab megalopas from the open sea

Megalopas of 15 brachyuran crab species collected in the open sea plankton, and unknown until now, were identified using DNA barcodes (COI and 16S rRNA). Specimens belonging to the families Portunidae, Pseudorhombilidae and Xanthidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura), and corresponding to the species Achelous floridanus, Arenaeus mexicanus, Callinectes amnicola, C. arcuatus, C. ornatus, C. toxones, Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii, Portunus hastatus, Thalamita admete, Scopolius nuttingi, Etisus odhneri, Liomera cinctimanus, Neoliomera cerasinus, Pseudoliomera variolosa, and Williamstimpsonia stimpsoni, are described and illustrated, and compared with other congeneric species previously described. We also provide a new geographical record for N. cerasinus and the most remarkable features for each species.The Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain (MINECO) and the European Fund for Economic and Regional Development (FEDER) through the MALASPINA 2010 Expedition (Consolider-Ingenio 2010, CSD2008-00077) and MAF Research Project (National Research Program, CTM2012-39587-C04-02) funded this study. We thank the captains and crews of RV Hespérides in 2010-11 and 2015 for the support during the cruises, and Carlos Sánchez (ICMAN-CSIC) by laboratory work.Peer reviewe