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 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.     

The first record of the genus Vejdovskybathynella Serban and Leclerc, 1984 (Syncarida,Bathynellacea, Bathynellidae) in the Iberian Peninsula: three new species

Three new species of the genus Vejdovskybathynella are described from caves in northern Spain. It is the first time that this genus has been documented in the Iberian Peninsula. Vejdovskybathynella edelweiss n. sp. has several unique features: the setal formula of the antenna (0/2+exp/2+0/1+0/0+0/2+2/4); the form of the segments and claws of the mandibular palp of the mandible of the male; exopod of the female thoracopod VIII similar in size to the endopod (exopod is always longer than the endopod); small frontal projection of the basipod of the male thoracopod VIII, large or very large is common; the form and size of the lobes of the male thoracopod VIII is unique; the second spine of the furcal rami 2.5 times longer than the first spine. Vejdovskybathynella caroloi n. sp. has a unique male thoracopod VIII with a spur in the exopod that is a feature unknown in the genus, and additionally, this species has the smallest endopod of the thoracopod VIII male of the entire genus; the presence of three aesthetascs in segments VI and VII of the antennule had not been observed in this genus until now; the form of the segments of the mandibular palp of the mandible of the male are unique; the distal spine of the sympod of the uropod is larger than in other species, whereas in the rest of the species of the genus they are equal in size. Vejdovskybathynella pascalis n. sp. is the smallest species of the genus and has two and three aesthetascs in segments VI and VII of the antennule, respectively; it is the only species of the genus that has one seta on segment I and two setae on segment IV of the antenna; it has a unique male thoracopod VIII with a small spur on the frontal projection of the basipod and with the endopod larger than all other species in spite of its small size; the basal spine of the sympod of the uropod is smaller than the other three.     

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.     

Expanding the taxonomic conundrum: Three new species of groundwater crustacean (Syncarida,Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) endemic to the Iberian Peninsula

Two new species of the genus Iberobathynella and one new species of the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella are described from the Iberian Peninsula. The three new species were found in the groundwater of caves and the gravelly bank of a river, two species in the north of Spain (Cantabria and Burgos) and one in the south (Sevilla). The two new species of the genus Iberobathynella present a unique combination of characters. These character combinations for the species from Cantabria are: thoracopod 8 female with wrinkled cuticle and two teeth; seven spines on the furca; nine spines on the sympod, three barbed and one plumose seta on the exopod and two barbed setae on the endopod of the uropod; maxilla with 0, 0 and 15 setae on the three segments, respectively; five teeth on the pars incisiva and six teeth on the pars molaris of the mandible and seven segments on the antennule. The combinations of characters for the species from Burgos are: antennule with seven segments; segment 5 of the antennule with one aesthetasc; mandible with four and five teeth on the pars incisiva and pars molaris respectively; maxillule with one seta on segment 1 and 14 setae on segment 3; segment 1 of the endopod of the thoracopod 1 with two setae; uropod with six spines on the sympod, four barbed setae and one plumose seta on the exopod and no setae on the endopod; furca with five spines and the thoracopod 8 female with wrinkled cuticle and two teeth. This last species has an exclusive character for the genus: the absence of setae on the endopod of the uropod. The new species of the genus Hexabathynella has six spines of similar length on the sympod of the uropod (in all other species within the genus the distal spine is longer than the others); the form of the antennal organ in the males is shown to be a new unique character for the genus; the maxilla has three and 13 setae on segments 2 and 3, respectively; the uropod has six spines on the sympod, three barbed setae on the exopod and two smooth setae on the endopod, the endopod is twice as long as the exopod and the shape of the female thoracopod 8 is unique.     

Two new Asian species of the genus Scottolana Huys, 2009 (Copepoda: Canuelloida: Canuellidae)

Two new species of the family Canuellidae Lang, 1944, Scottolana jasani sp. nov. collected from Gusipo Beach, Korea and S. huysi sp. nov. from Kata Beach, Phuket Island, Thailand, are described. So far 14 species are currently known in the genus, of which only two, S. bulbifera from Russia, China, and Korea, and S. geei from China, have been reported from Asia. The new species, Scottolana jasani sp. nov. and S. huysi sp. nov., belong to the longipes-group, defined by the presence of two postgenital segments in the female, and caudal ramus with a proximal hook-like inner projection. Scottolana jasani sp. nov. closely resembles S. geei. However, it is easily distinguished by the following characters: (1) number of segments of antennal exopod (8 in the new species, but 9 in S. geei); (2) setae I, and II of caudal ramus; (3) shape of genital field in both sexes; (4) segmentation of mandibular exopod; and (5) spinular ornamentation of endopod-2 in P1. Scottolana huysi sp. nov. is also closely related to S. geei. However, it is unique and different from S. geei by (1) indistinctly 4-segmented antennule in the female; (2) 5-segmented male antennule; (3) larger genital field in female; (4) inner long seta on P4 coxa; and (5) the morphology of caudal seta II, being long and plumose, with a bulbiform base in the female only.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:33BFE1A2-8C95-4A9D-9E7A-B495CEEC3182     

A new landhopper species of Myanmarorchestia (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) from Yunnan,China

A new landhopper talitrid, Myanmarorchestia nunomurai Nakano and Morino, sp. nov., from Yunnan Province, China is described. Since species of Myanmarorchestia were known only from Mt. Victoria of the Arakan Mountains of Myanmar, this is the first record of the genus from China. Myanmarorchestia nunomurai is characterised by its coxal gills on gnathopod 2 to pereopod 6 without filamentous projections while the other congeners from Myanmar possess some/all of the coxal gills with filamentous projections. Additionally, M. nunomurai can be diagnosed by the sexually dimorphic uropod 2, of which the outer ramus bears a robust seta on the midlateral surface and a few rows of small teeth on the middle to distodorsal surface.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3C014FFC-F4D6-4F18-8188-33672367ABB1     

Two new deep-sea species of Argestidae and Ameiridae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from the Eastern Mexican Pacific and Gulf of California,with proposal of a new genus of the family Argestidae

ABSTRACT

A handful of benthic harpacticoid species are known from the Gulf of California. Here I describe Argestes analongises sp. n. (Argestidae), and Argestigens celibis sp. n. (Ameiridae) from the deep sea of the Tropical Eastern Pacific and Gulf of California. Argestes analongises sp. n. fits in the subfamily Argestinae (Argestidae) and was attributed to the genus Argestes by the presence of small spinules covering the body surface of, at least, the urosome, and by the presence of an extremely elongated distal seta on the sixth segment of the female antennule. This new species seems to be allied to A. angolaensis by the situation of all the caudal setae, and by the ventral position of caudal seta III. They differ in the relative length of the female caudal rami, size, shape and relative position of the sensilla-bearing tubercles associated to the anal somite, armature of the mandibular basis, shape of the exopodal and endopodal segments of swimming legs, and relative length of the setae on the female P5 endopodal lobe and position of the innermost seta of the exopod of the female fifth leg. Argestigens celibis sp. n. was attributed to the family Ameiridae based on the non-argestid maxilla, on the presence of a more or less well-developed endopodal lobe of the male fifth leg and three inner setae on the third endopodal segment of the third leg, and on the presence of the typically modified ameirid-like inner spine on the basis of the male first leg. The new species was attributed to Argestigens based on the non-prehensile endopod of first leg and presence of long inner spinules on the basis of second to fourth legs. Additionally, a new genus, Georgus gen. n., is proposed for Bodinia peterrumi, and some comments are given on the monophyly of that genus.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4BD580B0-E856-4FBC-ABA6-B031A9B6E1F9     

A new Arietellidae (Copepoda: Calanoida) from the Red Sea

A new species of the calanoid copepod genus Paramisophria T. Scott, 1897 is described from the Egyptian sublittoral zone of the Red Sea. Paramisophria aegypti sp. nov. appears to be closely related to the species Paramisophria ammophila and Paramisophria platysoma. Paramisophria aegypti differs from P. ammophila in having two unequal lateral setae plus one long terminal process and two tiny equal lateral setae plus one long terminal process on the third exopodal segment on the male right and left fifth legs (vs three terminal processes increasing in size inward on both male fifth legs). Paramisophria aegypti can be distinguished from P. platysoma in the following characters: prosome symmetrical (vs extreme asymmetry); third exopod segment of the right leg completely separated from the second segment and bears two unequal lateral setae plus one long terminal process (vs partially fused to the second segment and bears four terminal processes increasing in size inward); third exopod segment of the left leg with two lateral setules and one long terminal process (vs two lateral setules, one short outer medial process and one long terminal process); endopodal lobes of the female legs 5 bear one long plumose seta (vs setae are lacking).http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C0A92BF9-2306-4A35-AA39-CE3B5865A396     

Description of two new species of Zosime (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Zosimeidae), including remarks on its phylogeny and distribution on the Great Meteor Seamount plateau (North-east Atlantic Ocean)

Quantitative sampling during the POS397 GroMet expedition in 2010 allowed analysis of the community structure of Zosimeidae on the Great Meteor Seamount (GMS) plateau. Twelve species of Zosime Boeck, 1873 were identified; 11 were recorded in the middle, nine in the northern, and 10 in the southern region. Similarity and diversity analyses showed no differences in community structure between these regions. The community seemed unaffected by geographical features; similarities between regions could reflect the uniform sediment structure and the complex water current system. Zosime can be characterised as monophyletic, due to the apomorphic one-segmented endopod of the mandible, armed with at most four setae. Two new species are described. Zosime carsteni sp. nov. (incrassata group) is defined by blunt spinules on the outer spines of exopods 1–3 of pereiopods 2–4 and the spinose nature of the innermost distal element of endopod 3 of pereiopods 1–4. Zosime eliasi sp. nov. (typica group) is defined by a flexible outer seta on the maxillipedal endopod. As both species bear an eight-segmented antennule (most plesiomorphic condition known so far), the recently erected anneae group is included into the typica group. An updated key of Zosime at the species level is given.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0BA28922-C575-4AAD-AD64-FDDBA22C34CC     

Five new Uropodina species from New Caledonia (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Five new species – Deraiophorus pinesensis sp. nov., Oplitis hallidayi sp. nov., Castriidinychus neocaledonicus sp. nov., Trigonuropoda neocaledonica sp. nov. and Trigonuropoda fendai sp. nov. – are described and illustrated on the basis of specimens collected in New Caledonia. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2F6876E3-948B-4EDC-93EF-4623033BD71E     

New species of Notophthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaroidea) from Tanzania

Three new species of the genus Notophthiracarus are described, identified and figured from Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania: Notophthiracarus quasiuluguruensis sp. nov, Notophthiracarus tuberculus sp. nov, and Notophthiracarus uluguruensis sp. nov. A comparison with the most closely related species of the genus Notophthiracarus is also presented.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FBF24E7-3E2D-4686-AD57-EFEA25510BBD     

A new species of the dentipes-subgroup of Triconia and a redescription of T. giesbrechti and T. elongata (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Oncaeidae) from the tropical Pacific and the Korea Strait

A new species of Triconia in the family Oncaeidae, Triconia pacifica sp. nov., and a new form variant each of Triconia giesbrechti Böttger-Schnack and Triconia elongata Böttger-Schnack are described from two sites in the Pacific. Triconia pacifica can be distinguished from its sibling Triconia dentipes (Giesbrecht) by (1) morphometric characters, including the proportional lengths of distal endopod spines of swimming leg 4, and the relative length of the outer basal seta on P5, and by (2) a number of micro-structures on the appendages. The Pacific specimens of T. elongata and T. giesbrechti resemble the typical forms in morphometric characters, with some minor differences in proportional spine lengths on the swimming legs, and differ in a few micro-structures. The hitherto unknown male of T. giesbrechti is newly described. For all species/forms described, the intraspecific variability of proportional spine lengths on the endopods of P2–P4 is examined and discussed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6B41B0E2-0A5C-458B-8F9C-25000F208E24     

Taxonomy of Palaearctic scythridids: description of Falkovitshella hindukushi sp. nov. and Scythris wadiqeltella sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Scythrididae)

Two new species are here described and illustrated: Falkovitshella hindukushi sp. nov. from north-eastern Afghanistan, and Scythris wadiqeltella sp. nov. from Palestine. Scythris inconspicuella Sinev is newly recorded from China, markedly extending its known range. http://www.zoobank,org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2BC5092F-D004-4CB3-85C7-1CAA54AAE536