Taxonomic guide to the mantis shrimps (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) of South Africa

Mantis shrimps are important predatory crustaceans in the marine benthos and comprise some 500 described species worldwide, the majority inhabiting the tropics, with a few found in temperate regions. However, current taxonomic knowledge of the mantis shrimp fauna of South Africa is limited and outdated, with the last comprehensive taxonomic revision of the group being that of K.H. Barnard in 1950. The stomatopod crustaceans of South Africa are reported based on previous records in the literature and existing material housed in the Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town.

Five species are added as new records for the region including an undescribed species of Gonodactylus, increasing the number of South African stomatopods from 26 to 31 species belonging to 20 genera from nine families. Notable findings include high variation in genus- and species-diagnostic features of Pterygosquilla capensis, such as rounded ocular scales and more than 18 SM denticles of the telson. Taxonomic species accounts of all known national species are compiled to present the first comprehensive and fully illustrated identification guide of the stomatopods from South African waters.