In a recent paper with Gary Poore, we used a good dose of humour to describe two new species by means of genetics and morphometrics, from within a mysterious genus of squat lobsters known from more than 400 m down. The originally described bloke is known as Uroptychus naso due to his prominent rostrum. The new mates names were chosen following their equally noticeable rostra: one is Uroptychus pinocchio after the famous Italian marionette; the other, Uroptychus cyrano after the legendary French writer and duelist. 
In our new paper with Gary, we have used again morphology and genetics to sort out the same issue from within another mysterious genus of squat lobsters: Agononida. This time we fished out four new species, distinct from the originally described Agononida incerta and, one previously confused with the latter. They summed up to a total of six valid taxonomic units. The new ones are: A. africerta, A. auscerta, A. indocerta and A. norfocerta; the confused one: A. rubrizonata. But checkout their distribution! How does that fit with large scale geological events and big biogeographical barriers, responsible for the present’s day diversification and distribution of deep sea species? Wallace’s line, Huxley’s line, Indo-Pacific break or Wallace line marine equivalent?
In our new paper with Gary, we have used again morphology and genetics to sort out the same issue from within another mysterious genus of squat lobsters: Agononida. This time we fished out four new species, distinct from the originally described Agononida incerta and, one previously confused with the latter. They summed up to a total of six valid taxonomic units. The new ones are: A. africerta, A. auscerta, A. indocerta and A. norfocerta; the confused one: A. rubrizonata. But checkout their distribution! How does that fit with large scale geological events and big biogeographical barriers, responsible for the present’s day diversification and distribution of deep sea species? Wallace’s line, Huxley’s line, Indo-Pacific break or Wallace line marine equivalent?
The names of the new entries: too serious this time: after Australia, Africa, Indian Ocean and the Norfolk Ridge. You can tell them apart only on the basis of the shape of the anterolateral lobe of the telson and the shape and setation of the dactyli of pereopods 2–4, unless you wish to use molecules. Give it a try!
Relevant literature
- The Agononida incerta species complex unravelled (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Munididae). GCB Poore and N Andreakis. Zootaxa. 3492: 1-29.
- Morphological, molecular and biogeographic evidence support two new species in the Uroptychus naso complex (Crustacea: Decapoda: Chirostylidae). GCB Poore and N Andreakis. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 60: 152-169.
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