Monsters in the dark: systematics and biogeography of the stygobitic genus Godzillius (Crustacea: Remipedia) from the Lucayan Archipelago

Remipedia is a stygobitic group commonly associated with coastal anchialine caves. This class consists of 12 genera, ten which are found within the Lucayan Archipelago. Herein, we describe new species genus Godzillius from Conch Sound Blue Hole, North Andros Island, Bahamas. louriei sp. nov. third known remipede observed subseafloor marine cave, and first Godzilliidae. Remipedes dwell notoriously difficult to access cave habitats thus integrative comprehensive systematic studies at family or level often absent in literature. In this study, all compared using morphological molecular approaches. Specifically, feeding appendages G. nov., fuchsi Gonzalez, Singpiel & Schlagner, 2013 robustus Schram, Yager Emerson, 1986 were examined scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Species identified based on spines maxilla 1 segment 4 by denticles lacinia mobilis left mandible. A phylogeny mitochondrial 16S rRNA nuclear histone 3 genes recovered clade genetic distances revealed 13–15% difference between Godzillius.