The first record of Bathynellacea from Thailand: a new genus and species of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea: Syncarida)

A new genus and species of the family Parabathynellidae, Siambathynella laorsriae gen. nov. et sp. nov. is described from Thailand. The new genus displays an exclusive character: a distinctive male thoracopod VIII with a row of denticles on the basipod. The new species also displays a unique combination of morphological characters, including a seven-segmented antennule, seven-segmented antenna, sexual dimorphism on the antennule, exopod of thoracopod I one-segmented, exopod of thoracopod II–VII two-segmented, male thoracopod VIII lacking basipodal seta, female thoracopod VIII with two setae, lacking pleopods, sympod of the uropod with inhomonomous row of spines, and endopod of uropod with a spinous distal process and a large distal spine ornamented with rows of setules. This is the first record of Bathynellacea (family Parabathynellidae) in Thailand, extending the distributional range of this taxon in Asia.     

A primitive representative of the Parabathynellidae (Bathynellacea,Syncarida) from the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia

Billibathynella humphreysi gen. et sp. nov. is described from calcrete aquifers located in the Yilgarn Craton of north‐western Australia. This is the first parabathynellid known from the Australian Precambrian shields, which have never been inundated by the sea. A comparison of the primitive species so far known from Australia and other continents points to the new species as being the most primitive among the parabathynellids. It further suggests that the new genus has an affinity to Notobathynella Schminke, but differs in having a six‐segmented antenna and a large epipod of the male thoracopod VIII. An attempt to relate the primitiveness of the new species to the historiogeological characteristics of the region has led to the conclusion that the recent parabathynellids could have emerged from freshwater epigean ancestors. It is further assumed that the transition of their ancestors to groundwaters happened in Notogaea.     

Ten new species of the genus Brevisomabathynella Cho,Park and Ranga Reddy, 2006 (Malacostraca,Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) from Western Australia

Ten new species of Brevisomabathynella Cho, Park and Ranga Reddy, 2006 Cho, JL, Park, JG and Ranga Reddy, Y. 2006. Brevisomabathynella gen. nov. with two new species from Western Australia (Bathynellacea, Syncarida): the first definitive evidence of predation in Parabathynellidae. Zootaxa., 1247: 25–42.  [Google Scholar] are described and illustrated from the arid region of Western Australia. Comparison of the external morphology revealed the presence of three common characters distributed among the 10 species: the five-segmented antenna, the absence of the basipodal seta on the male thoracopod VIII and the absence of a basiventral seta on the uropodal exopod. This character combination is not found in Notobathynella and Billibathynella, but only in Brevisomabathynella, a genus known from two described species both with unusual characters. Despite the three common attributes, the 10 new species differ remarkably from these two described species, but could not be defined by their own synapomorphy. Consequently, and cognizant of a previously performed molecular analysis, we assign the 10 new species to Brevisomabathynella and amend the generic diagnosis. The species inhabit shallow aquifers in groundwater calcretes and each appears to be endemic to a given calcrete formation. The two species previously known and the 10 species now described include four sympatric species pairs, with similar-sized sympatric species differing markedly in body form. Brevisomabathynella inhabit groundwater up to at least marine salinity.     

A new genus of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea: Bathynellacea) in New South Wales,Australia

A new genus and species of the family Parabathynellidae, Octobathynella peelensis gen. nov. sp. nov., is described from New South Wales, Australia. The new genus displays several exclusive characters: a very large and distinctive male thoracopod VIII with one crest-like projection containing two lobules on the basipod; and four aesthetascs on segments six and seven of the antennule. It also has several combinations of characters that make it unique in the Parabathynellidae, specifically that: the antennule is eight-segmented (a new character in the Australian species); there are seven segments in the antenna; the labrum has 18–20 teeth; the exopod of thoracopod I has three to four segments and the exopod of thoracopod II has four segments; the endopod has one dorsal seta on the first and second segments and the epipod is absent on thoracopod I; pleopods are absent; the endopod of the male thoracopod VIII has two setae and the exopod has setules; there are 10–12 spines on the sympod, three or four spines on the endopod and five setae on the exopod of the uropod. The new genus and species is placed into context with all known Bathynellacea in Australia, and the biogeographic patterns are discussed for this ancient group of subterranean crustaceans.     

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.     

The first record of Syncarida in Montana,USA: a new genus and species of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea,Bathynellacea) in North America

Montanabathynella salish gen. nov. sp. nov., of the family Parabathynellidae, from Montana, USA, is described. The new species displays several exclusive characters: distal endite of the maxillule with nine claws and a very large and distinctive male thoracopod 8 with four lobes in the basal penial region and a long recurved exopod without setation. It also presents a unique combination of characters: antennule seven‐segmented; antenna six‐segmented; labrum with 18 teeth; exopod of thoracopods three‐ to six‐segmented, endopod with one dorsal seta on the first and second segments and epipod only present on thoracopods 4 to 7; pleopods absent; endopod of thoracopod 8 male with two setae and exopod without setae; female thoracopod 8 having two segments, first segment with two groups of denticles and the second one with three long barbed setae; 15 spines on sympod, four spines and spinous process on endopod and 12 setae on exopod of uropod.     

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.     

A new genus with three new species of copepods from the family Diaixidae (Crustacea: Calanoida), and a redefinition of the family

Plankton samples taken in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, yielded material of a new genus containing 3 new species: Anawekia spinosa gen. nov. et sp. nov., A. robusta sp. nov. and A. bilobata sp. nov., which are described herein. The family Diaixidae now contains 12 described species in 2 genera, 9 being in the genus Diaixis. It is noted that 3 of the Diaixis species (including the type species) share some features which are not shared with the remaining 6 species, and that these latter species should probably be placed into a third genus. An amplified redefinition of the family is given.     

An overview of Hexabathynella (Crustacea,Syncarida, Parabathynellidae) with the description of a new species

A new species of the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella is described from Spain. This new species has four setae on the expopod of the uropod, the rest of the species in the genus have between one and three. The endopod of the uropod has two smooth setae of similar length and one plumose seta, these characters only appear in the new species within the genus. The antennal organ in the males is shown to be a new unique character for the genus. It is the third species of this genus that has been found in Spain. To date the genus consists of 18 species in the world. A key for identification of the 18 species of Hexabathynella is provided. It is the only cosmopolitan genus of Bathynellacea and it is distributed in Europe (nine species), Africa (one species), South America (two species), North America (three species) and Australia and New Zealand (three species).     

Disentangling an Asian puzzle: Two new bathynellid (Crustacea,Syncarida, Parabathynellidae) genera from Vietnam

In this paper the 17 asiatic species of the family Parabathynellidae are reviewed from a taxonomic point of view using bibliographic data. Two new genera and two new species are described from caves in Vietnam. Paraeobathynella n. g. presents a unique combination of characters (antennule: seven segments; antenna: six segments; mandible: pars incisiva with five teeth and pars molaris with 10 teeth; maxillule: distal endite with seven claws; exopod of the thoracopods with three or more segments and epipods present in thoracopods 3–7; pleopods absent; endopod of the Th 8 male with two setae; seven spines on the sympod and two spines on the endopod of the uropod and the small minimum size of the adult body) and exclusive characters like the Th 8 female having two small spines and one long seta and the general size and aspect of the Th 8 male and its lobes. Sketinella n. g. presents a unique combination of characters (antennule: eight segments; antenna; six segments; mandible: pars incisiva with six teeth and pars molaris with eight teeth: maxillule: distal endite with seven claws; exopod of the thoracopods with three or more segments and epipods present in Th 3–7; endopod of the thoracopod 8 male with two setae; 12 spines on the sympod and two spines on the endopod and seven setae on the exopod of the uropod) and characters exclusive to the asiatic species are: a pair of pleopods reduced to a single seta; a very distinctive basipod and outer lobe of the Th 8 male and an exopod of the Th 8 male with a small tooth or protuberance. This is the first time that the Parabathynellidae has been found in Vietnam, this find extends the range of distribution of this family in Asia.     

A new genus and species of terrestrial isopod from Malaysia (Crustacea,Oniscidea, Platyarthridae)

A new terrestrial isopod, Cephaloniscus sociabilis gen. nov., sp. nov., from Fraser Hill in central Malaysia, is described and illustrated. The new genus belongs to the family Platyarthridae and is distinguished from other members of the family by the characteristic structure of the cephalon. The specimens were collected from the nest of the termite Hospitalitermes sp. (near medioflavus Holmgren) together with the ant Centromyrmex hamulatus (Karavaiev).     

A new genus and five new species of Phoxocephalidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the south-east Brazilian deep sea

Rearing data from higher plants, carrion and bird and mammal nests and burrows are provided for eight species of Heleomyzidae (Diptera): Heleomyzinae: Heleomyza borealis Boheman, Scoliocentra brachypterna (Loew) and Eccoptomera microps (Meigen); Heteromyzinae: Tephrochlamys flavipes (Zetterstedt), Tephrochlamys tarsalis (Zetterstedt) and Heteromyza rotundicornis (Zetterstedt); and Suillinae: Suillia ustulata (Meigen) and Suillia variegata (Loew). The puparia of these species are described. Unique characters and characters in combination distinguish each species and their subfamilies, suggesting that early stages are a valuable source of taxonomic data. Head skeleton and other features suggest contrasting food gathering mechanisms, with heleomyzines suited to feeding on food of low viscosity, suillines on high-viscosity or firm food and heteromyzines on food of intermediate viscosity.     

A new pontoniine shrimp genus (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Yemen,with a note on other species

An unusual new genus and species of coral inhabiting pontoniine shrimp from the Yemen is described and illustrated. The new shrimp is remarkable for its very small size and the unique form of its telson. Three other pontoniine shrimps are also reported from the Yemen for the first time, raising the number of such shrimp species known from southern Arabia to 18.     

An enigma from Australia: a new variation on the corophioid theme (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Aetiopedes gracilis gen. et sp. nov. (Amphipoda : Isaeidae) is described from southern Australian (Tasmanian, Victorian) shallow coastal sand habitats. The taxon superficially resembles an ampeliscoid having antenna 2 markedly longer than antenna 1 and peraeopods 3–4 with long, slender dactyls. The possibility is raised that glandular peraeopods may be a synapomorphy associating Ampeliscoidea with Corophioidea as sister groups. The structure of peraeopods 3–4 (merochelate), labrum (toothed) and telson (shortened) are all autapomorphies peculiar to the new taxon. Within the Isaeidae, Aetiopedes appears to be closest to Amphideutopus. The relationships of these taxa are discussed in relation to the hypotheses of Barnard & Thomas (1987) on the systematics of the Neomegamphopidae.     

A new genus of hemibranchiate sphaeromatid isopod crustacean from tropical Western Australia

A new genus and species of marine sphaeromatid isopod is described from the North West Shelf (Indian Ocean) tropical Western Australia. Kranosphaera haptomela gen. nov. sp. nov. (Sphaeromatinae) is distinguished from other hemibranchiate genera by the strongly rugose and deeply pitted body surfaces, projecting epistome, uniramous uropodal rami, and in the male by modified pereopod 5 which is greatly expanded and 6 which has a coupling flange on the ischium. It is known only from the vicinity of the type locality.     

Mangrove halacarid fauna (Halacaridae,Acari) of the Dampier region,Western Australia,with description of five new species

Amongst the vagile epifauna on the mangrove trees Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa, Acari numerically play an important role, contributing 20-75% of the fauna. The two major groups are the prostigmatids and oribatids. Amongst the prostigmatid mites, halacarids are regularly present from the upper littoral fringe, inundated only at very high tide, to the permanently wet substrata adjacent to tide pools. Oribatids are most abundant in permanently wet substrata and often dominate the mite fauna. Five halacarid species, regularly found amongst the epibios on mangroves, are described, Isobactrus australiensis n. sp., Rhombognathus ocularis n. sp., Agauopsis dasyderma n. sp., Copidognathus lutarius n. sp. and C. piger n. sp. Isobactrus australiensis often is the only mite in the upper zone not reached by every high water.