Japanese panda shrimp is confirmed as a new species

A species of crustacean with unique panda-like black and white stripes has been confirmed as a separate species, decades after it was first found in Japan. The discovery highlights the importance of identifying species in order to protect them.

The Melita panda was first found in the 1990s. It is described for the first time in a paper published in the journal ZooKeys.

Melitid amphipods are shrimp-like crustaceans found worldwide. Melita panda becomes the 64th known species to be found globally and the 17th to be found in Japan. It was found in intertidal waters in the Wakayama Prefecture, just south of Osaka.

There are likely many more species that remain undiscovered in Japan and internationally.

“Study on the amphipod Crustacea in the coastal zone of Japan is lagging behind,” says first author Ko Tomikawa, a professor at Hiroshima University. “In order to accurately assess species diversity, taxonomic studies are necessary.”

“We hope the discovery of a new species of amphipod with the familiar colouring of the panda pattern will increase the public’s interest in biodiversity and taxonomy.”

The researchers say that the first step in biodiversity conservation is understanding the taxonomy – the categorisation of species and organism groups. Species diversity, Tomikawa says, is something which is still not fully understood.

Scientists identified Melita panda by studying its morphology and its DNA.

They found that it is closely related to 2 other Melita amphipods – the Melita nagatai and Melita koreana. Together, these 3 species share a common ancestor, the Melita hoshinoi.

Apart from its distinctive colouring M. panda also has some physical differences. Its gnathopods – the claws that extend from the second segment in its thorax – sit more forward than other Melita amphipods.

Specimens range from 4–8mm in length.

“Hopefully, a detailed study of the ecology and behaviour of Melita panda will reveal the reason for its panda pattern,” Tomikawa adds.

“Further taxonomic studies on amphipods in uninvestigated areas are expected to lead to the discovery of additional new species.

“Continued taxonomic studies are expected to elucidate the biodiversity in the coastal environments of the Japanese archipelago and provide important basic data for species conservation.”