This study investigates the biodiversity of crustaceans in the deep waters off the coasts of Latakia-Jableh and Baniyas of Syria. Samples were collected over 15 survey days in two periods: 12 days during 2014-2015 and three days in February, March and April 2021, using trawl nets at depths ranging from 300 to 650 meters. Additional benthic samples were collected from deep waters off Baniyas at a depth of 500 m. Only 22 crustacean species were found. The shrimps Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) and Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) were the most abundant, accounting for nearly 70% of the catch at a depth of approximate to 450 m, followed by Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas,1846) at approximately 25%. Field data revealed the widespread presence of five alien crustaceans in the survey area, including Charybdis (Goniohellenus) longicollis Leene, 1938, Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius,1798), Penaeus pulchricaudatus Stebbing, 1914, Penaeus semisulcatus (De Haan,1844) and Erugosquilla massavensis (Kossmann, 1880). The results documented the presence of some rare crustaceans in Syrian deep waters. The current data can be used in any future national project to manage marine biological resources or to adapt to the impacts of climate change on marine fisheries.
A systematic revision of the 'Neanthes acuminata' species complex has been conducted by examining both type and non-type specimens. Several distinctive features characterize these species, including the broad, continuous band of paragnaths on the oral ring, the presence of notoaciculae in the first chaetigers, yellow aciculae, the presence of notopodial prechaetal and neuropodial postchaetal lobes, as well as the spinigers being exclusively of the homogomph type, among others. The genus Neanthioides is reinstated and elevated to genus level to encompass the species within this complex. Five species are redescribed, and two are newly described: Neanthioides acuminatacomb. nov., N. arenaceodentatacomb. nov., N. bolivari reinst., comb. nov., N. cricognathacomb. nov., N. donaldreishisp. nov., N. longdongwanensiscomb. nov. and N. marianatovaraesp. nov. Additionally, a new deep-sea genus similar to Neanthioides is established: Satonereisgen. nov. Three species are proposed: Satonereis leslieharrisaesp. nov., S. suluensiscomb. nov. and S. visicetecomb. nov. Detailed tables of diagnostic characters for Neanthioides species and related genera are provided, and identification keys for Neanthioides and Satonereisgen. nov. are included.
