The diverse Grania fauna (Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) of the Esperance area,Western Australia,with descriptions of two new species

Seven species of the marine enchytraeid genus Grania Southern, 1913 are described from sediments sampled during the 2003 International Workshop on the Marine Flora and Fauna of Esperance Bay and the Recherche Archipelago, on the southern coast of Western Australia. Two species are new to science, the euryhaline Tasmanian G. dolichura Rota and Erséus, 2000 Rota, E. and Erséus, C. 2000. Two new and peculiar species of Grania (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) inhabiting Tasmanian estuaries.. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 27: 245–254. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] represents a new record for the state, and the remaining four species were known from other parts of Western Australia. Grania quaerens sp. n. is recognized by having a high chaetal index ( = short chaetal foot), small coelomocytes, penial apparati with long whip‐like terminal stylets, conspicuous spermathecae with ectally bulbous ducts, and ectally granulated ampullae housing sperm rings in their ental region. Grania sperantia sp. n. is readily distinguishable by the complete lack of lateral chaetae, a multiple‐banded pattern of the clitellum, extremely long sperm funnels, and the intrasegmental location of the spermathecal pores. The latter new species and four others in the collection (G. bykane Coates, 1990 Coates, K. A. 1990. “Marine Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) of the Albany area, Western Australia.”. In The marine flora and fauna of Albany, Western Australia, 1, Edited by: Wells, F. E, Walker, D. I, Kirkman, H and Lethbridge, R. 13–41. Perth: Western Australian Museum.  [Google Scholar], G. crassiducta Coates, 1990 Coates, K. A. 1990. “Marine Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) of the Albany area, Western Australia.”. In The marine flora and fauna of Albany, Western Australia, 1, Edited by: Wells, F. E, Walker, D. I, Kirkman, H and Lethbridge, R. 13–41. Perth: Western Australian Museum.  [Google Scholar], G. dolichura, and G. ersei Coates, 1990 Coates, K. A. 1990. “Marine Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) of the Albany area, Western Australia.”. In The marine flora and fauna of Albany, Western Australia, 1, Edited by: Wells, F. E, Walker, D. I, Kirkman, H and Lethbridge, R. 13–41. Perth: Western Australian Museum.  [Google Scholar]) are remarkable in possessing the head organ, a sensory structure unique to Grania that was not noted previously in Western Australian species. When considering the whole genus, the geographic pattern of the head organ appears southern‐centred: of the 17 species of Grania reported to possess it, as many as 13 inhabit the southern latitudes. The seventh species of the Esperance collection, G. vacivasa Coates and Stacey, 1993 Coates, K. A. and Stacey, D. 1993. “The marine Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) of Rottnest Island, Western Australia.”. In The marine flora and fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Edited by: Wells, F. E, Walker, D. I, Kirkman, H and Lethbridge, R. 391–414. Perth: Western Australian Museum.  [Google Scholar], is notable for the kind of items found in its gut and the unusual appearance of its pygidium.     

Two new species of the genus Chilibathynella Noodt, 1963 and Onychobathynella bifurcata gen. et sp. nov (Crustacea: Syncarida: Parabathynellidae) from New South Wales,Australia

Two new species of the parabathynellid genus Chilibathynella Noodt, 1963 Noodt, W. 1963. Estudios sobre Crustaceos de aguas subterraneas, III. Crustacea Syncarida de Chile Central. Investig Zool Chilenas, 10: 151–167.  [Google Scholar] are described from Australia. Chilibathynella joshuai sp. nov. has a unique combination of morphological characters, which includes five-segmented antenna, no epipodite on thoracopod I, two setae on the endopod of the male thoracopod VIII, homonomous row of 17 spines on uropodal sympod, uropodal exopod with four distal spines and a flat anal operculum. Chilibathynella digitus sp. nov. has two exclusive characters: six teeth on the pars incisiva of the mandible and a large, elongated digitiform protuberance (resembling a finger) on the basipod of male thoracopod VIII. The species also displays a unique combination of morphological characters, which includes five-segmented antenna, no epipodite on thoracopod I, no outer marginal seta on the first and second segments of the endopod of thoracopod I to VII, two setae on the endopod of the male thoracopod VIII, homonomous row of 12 spines on uropodal sympod, uropodal exopod with three distal spines and an unprotruded anal operculum. The two new species extend the distribution of the Chilibathynella genus in Australia from Victoria to New South Wales. A new genus and species of the family Parabathynellidae, Onychobathynella bifurcata gen. nov. sp. nov., is described from New South Wales, Australia. The new genus displays an evolutionary novelty, for Parabathynellidae and the entire group of Bathynellacea: the antennule, antenna, thoracopods, pleopod I and uropod have setae that are strong, thick, short, barbed and claw-like. This new genus is the first in the family without smooth setae on the antennule and antenna. The new genus also has a combination of characters that makes it unique in Parabathynellidae: the antennule is eight-segmented like Octobathynella Camacho and Hancock, 2010 Camacho, AI and Hancock, P. 2010. A new record of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea, Bathynellacea) in Australia: a new genus and species from New South Wales. J Nat Hist, 44(17–18): 1081–1094. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; the antenna is five-segmented; the labrum has 20 teeth; the exopod of thoracopod I to VII has only one segment; the endopod lacks dorsal setae on the first segment and the epipod is absent from thoracopod I; first pleopods are present and resemble two barbed curved claws; there are 18 bifid spines on the sympod, two spines and four setae resembling strong barbed claws on the endopod and six robust setae on the exopod of the uropod.     

Australian species of Sinella (Coecobrya) Yosii, 1956 (Collembola: Entomobryidae)

The Australian members of the subgenus, Sinella (Coecobrya) Yosii, are revised. A new species from Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory, Sinella (Coecobrya) tropicalis sp. nov., is described, Sinella (Coecobrya) tenebricosa Folsom, 1902 is recorded from Australia for the first time, and new records of Sinella (Coecobrya) communis Chen and Christiansen, 1997 Chen, J‐X. and Christiansen, K. A. 1997. Subgenus Coecobrya of the genus Sinella (Collembola: Entomobryidae) with special reference to the species of China.. Annals of the American Society of Entomology, 90: 1–19.  [Google Scholar] are documented. Sinella (Coecobrya) caeca Schött, 1896 is considered a dubious record from Australia. A key is provided to the three known Australian species and a summary given of all dorsal and lateral chaetal patterns found on the fourth abdominal segment of subgenera Sinella Brook, 1882 Brook, G. 1882. On a new genus of Collembola (Sinella) allied to Degeeria Nicolet.. Journal of the Linnean Society of London (Zoology), 16: 541–545.  [Google Scholar] and Coecobrya Yosii, 1956 Yosii, R. 1956. Hohlencollembolen Japans II.. Japanese Journal of Zoology, 11(5): 609–627.  [Google Scholar]. The biogeography of the subgenus is described.     

Description of four new species of the genus Ampelisca (Amphipoda,Ampeliscidae) from the northeastern and southeastern coasts of Brazil and designation of a neotype for Ampelisca soleata Oliveira, 1954

The present study raises the number of Ampelisca species recorded from the Brazilian coast from 18 to 21. The amphipod fauna of the Brazilian northeast coast is hardly known compared to that of the southeast coast. In this study, we describe three new species from the northeast coast: Ampelisca pseudobicarinata sp. nov., Ampelisca rocasensis sp. nov. and Ampelisca cristianae sp. nov, recorded previously as Ampelisca aff. lobata (Serejo et al. 2000 Serejo, CS, Wakabara, Y and Valério-Berardo, MT. 2000. Taxonomy and geographic distribution of Ampelisca (Amphipoda: Gammaridea) from the Brazilian coast. Polsk Archiw Hydrobiol., 47(3–4): 495–510.  [Google Scholar]). We also report a new record of Ampelisca burkei Barnard and Thomas, 1989 Barnard, JL and Thomas, JD. 1989. A new species, Ampelisca burkei, (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Florida. Proc Biol Soc Washington., 102(2): 375–384.  [Google Scholar]. From the southeast coast a new species Ampelisca angraensis sp. nov. is described. An obscure species, Ampelisca soleata, which is very similar to Ampelisca brevisimulata, is herein redescribed and a neotype is designated. An updated key with all species of Ampelisca recorded from the Brazilian coast and comments on geographic distribution are given.     

Redescription of Alona macracantha Smirnov and Timms, 1983 and its assignment to Maraura gen. nov. (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)

Three new species of the harpacticoid family Ameiridae are described from clean sand at high water neap tide on St Martin's Flat, Isles of Scilly. Ameiropsis martinis sp. nov. appears most closely related to A. australis Kunz, 1975 Kunz, H. 1975. Copepoda Harpacticoidea aus dem litoral des sudlichen Afrika. 1 Teil. Kiel Meeresforsch., 31(2): 179–212.  [Google Scholar] but can be distinguished from it by the shape of the rostrum and the armature of the operculum, female genital field and the male P5 baseoendopodal lobe. Sarsameira parexilis sp. nov. was originally identified as S. exilis T. and A. Scott, 1894 Scott, T. 1894. Additions to the fauna of the Firth of Forth. Part IV. 12th Annual Report of the Fisheries Board for Scotland, : 231–270.  [Google Scholar] but the females can be distinguished from S. exilis by their smaller body size and shape of the caudal ramus whilst the males can be distinguished by the 12-segmented antennule and four setae on the P5 baseoendopodal lobe. Ameira longispina sp. nov. is unique within the “Ameira” complex of genera and species because of the marked elongation of the inner spine on the basis of the male P1. This species is tentatively placed in Ameira Boeck, 1865, but has features which indicate that it probably occupies an intermediate position between this genus and Psammameira Noodt, 1952. The previously unknown males of Sarsameira perezi Bodin, 1970 Bodin, P. 1970. Copépodes Harpacticoides marins des environs de La Rochelle 1. Especes de la vase intertidale de Chatelaillon. Tethys, 2(2): 385–436.  [Google Scholar] and Nitocra elegans (T. Scott, 1905 Scott, T. 1905. On some new and rare Crustacea from the Scottish seas. 23rd Annual Report of the Fisheries Board for Scotland, : 141–153.  [Google Scholar]) are also described.     

A revision of the Caridina gracilirostris De Man, 1892, species group,with descriptions of two new taxa (Decapoda; Caridea; Atyidae)

Re‐examination of the syntypes of Caridina gracilirostris De Man, 1892 De Man, J. G. 1892. “Decapoden des Indischen Archipels.”. In Zoologische Ergebnisse einer Reise in Niederlandisch Ost‐Indien Edited by: Weber, M. Vol. 2, 265–527. Plates 15–29 [Google Scholar], shows that the type series is composed of three species. These three species are similar in the form of the rostrum, but can be differentiated easily by a combination of rostral formula and sexual appendages. To stabilize the taxonomic status of these species, a lectotype for C. gracilirostris is selected. A lectotype for Caridina appendiculata Jalihal and Shenoy, 1998 Jalihal, D. R. and Shenoy, S. 1998. “Taxonomic revision of some Indian prawn species of genus Caridina H. Milne Edward, 1837 (Atyidae).”. In Proceedings and abstracts of the Fourth International Crustacean Congress, 128–129. Amsterdam, , Netherlands: The Crustacean Socrety.  [Google Scholar], is also designated from among the remaining syntypes of C. gracilirostris. A new species, C. neglecta, is described. Caridina gracilirostris and C. gracilima Lanchester, 1901 Lanchester, W. F. 1901. On the Crustacea collected during the “Skeat” expedition to the Malay Peninsula.. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1900([1901]): 533–574.  [Google Scholar], are redescribed and figured, and C. appendiculata is transferred to the C. nilotica species group. A new species group is also recognized for C. gracilirostris, C. neglecta, C. gracilima, and a new species, C. longifrons. The C. gracilirostris species group is defined here as taxa possessing a rostrum with subapical teeth, fewer than 10 dorsal teeth, and without any postorbital teeth.     

On a freshwater species of the genus Sanyuania Zhao and Han, 1980 (Crustacea,Ostracoda, Loxoconchidae) from Thailand,with a discussion on morphological evolution of the freshwater Loxoconchidae

The genus Sanyuania Zhao and Han, 1980 Zhao, G. and Han, D. 1980. “Late Quaternary brackish‐water ostracod faunas from the area to the west of Weishanhu Lake, Jiangsu and their significance.”. In Papers on Marine Micropaleontology, Edited by: Wang, P. 120–129. Beijing (China): Ocean Press.  [Google Scholar] is here transferred from the Cytherideidae to the Loxoconchidae, based on the morphology of valves and soft parts. Sanyuania segersi sp. nov., is described from a freshwater habitat, a river, in Thailand. This is the first record of this genus in Southeast Asia. The new species has a number of remarkable characters distinguishing it from other members in the genus and family: invicidont hinge, spearhead‐like protruding posterior extremity of carapace in dorsal view, subtriangular shape of carapace in lateral view, sieve plate without a central seta (sensillum) and an aberrant chaetotaxy of first and second antennae. The new taxon is compared with other recent freshwater loxoconchids [Cytheromorpha fuscata (Brady, 1869 Brady, G. S. 1869. Contributions to the study of the Entomostraca. IV. Ostracoda from the River Scheldt and the Grecian Archipelago.. Ann Mag Nat Hist ser 4., 3: 44–50.  [Google Scholar]), Elofsonia baltica (Hirschmann, 1909), Loxoconcha elliptica Brady, 1868, Loxoconcha galilea Lerner‐Seggev, 1968, Pseudolimnocythere hartmanni Danielopol, 1979 Danielopol, D. L. 1979. On the origin and the antiquity of the Pseudolimnocythere species (Ostracoda, Loxoconchidae).. Biol Gallo‐Hellen., 8: 99–107.  [Google Scholar], Pseudolimnocythere hypogaea Klie, 1938 Klie, W. 1938. Ostracoden aus unterirdischen Gewässern in Süditalien.. Zool Anz., 123: 148–154.  [Google Scholar]] using (1) phylogenetic analyses and (2) analyses of the chaetotaxy of the first antenna and second and third thoracopods, by comparison with an ontogenetic series of Loxoconcha japonica Ishizaki, 1968. The results from both types of analyses are congruent and reveal that Sanyuania segersi sp. nov., Pseudolimnocythere and Loxoconcha are in a more derived clade in the Loxoconchidae and are closely related to each other, whereas Cytheromorpha and Elofsonia are more ancestral.     

First record of Syncarida from Queensland,Australia, with description of two new species of Notobathynella Schminke, 1973 (Crustacea,Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae)

Two new species of the parabathynellid genus Notobathynella Schminke, 1973 Schminke, HK. 1973. Evolution, System und Verbreitungsgeschichte der Familie Parabathynellidae (Bathynellacea, Malacostraca)Akad Wiss Lit Mainz, Math-Naturwiss Klasse, Mikrofauna Meeresbodens, 24: 1–192.  [Google Scholar] are described from Australia: N. octocamura sp. nov. and N. pentatrichion sp. nov. Notobathynella octocamura sp. nov. has eight claws on the distal endite of the maxillule, a character that is unique in the Parabathynellidae. It is also the first species of the genus with the following characters: five setae on the terminal segment of antenna, 26–28 teeth on labrum, 31 setae on maxilla, a three-segmented exopod on thoracopod I, five-segmented exopods on thoracopods IV and V, three setae and two claws on the fourth endopodal segment of thoracopods I to IV, and six setae on the uropodal exopod. This species also has a unique setal formula for some thoracopods. Notobathynella pentatrichion sp. nov. is unique in the genus with five setae on the uropodal exopod and, like N. octocamura sp. nov., has a one- or two-segmented exopod on thoracopod I, a four- or five-segmented exopod of thoracopod V, and three setae and two claws in the four segments of the endopod of thoracopods II to IV. The two new species extend the distribution of Bathynellacea in Australia and are the first species to be described from Queensland.