A preliminary molecular phylogenetic framework for 12 genera (23 species) of the family Parabathynellidae from Europe, Australia, North Africa and India is presented based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers (Cox1 and 18S). The generated hypothesis places the Southeast Asia genus Paraeobathynella closer to European genera (Iberobathynella, Paraiberobathynella and Parabathynella) than to the Australian (Brevisomabathynella, Atopobathynella, Billibathynella, Octobathynella, Arkaroolabathynella and Lockyerenella) or Indian genera (Habrobathynella), or to the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella (Spain and Australia). Three new species of the genus Paraeobathynella from Thailand, P. ratensis n. sp., P. siamensis n. sp. and P. hanjavanitiana n. sp., are described based on morphological and molecular features. This is the first record of the genus from Thailand and extends its range of distribution within Asia, where it was previously known only from Vietnam. The new species are clearly separated as independent units at least since the Middle Miocene.
The systematic status of the controversial crustacean family Leptobathynellidae is investigated using molecular and morphological methods in this study. Partial sequences of the nuclear 18S gene are studied from 28 genera of Bathynellacea from several continents. The analysis includes some of the most plesiomorphic genera of the family Parabathynellidae, such as Billibathynella and Brevisomabathynella from Australia; Habrobathynella and Parvulobathynella from India; the diverse Iberobathynella; the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella; and representative genera of two subfamilies of Bathynellidae (Gallobathynellinae and Bathynellinae). We used a molecular approach to analyse the systematic relationships amongst 64 species from Europe, North America, Australia and Asia, and review the morphological characters relevant at the family level. The molecular phylogeny clearly shows the presence of three highly divergent clades that could represent the three families. This is the first molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of Bathynellacea that can be used to: (1) verify the validity of Leptobathynellidae, (2) explore the diversity of the families and (3) explore the phylogenetic relationships among families. We propose a plausible evolutionary scenario for the order Bathynellacea.
A new species, Tropodiaptomus defayeae n. sp. from Nepal, is herein proposed for inclusion in the genus Tropodiaptomus. This is the first record of the genus from Nepal. The new species is described and illustrated based on two males and two females collected from a permanent freshwater pond in the village Ankidha near Khatmandu, Nepal. A critical comparison of the new species with its known congeners has revealed close similarity with Tropodiaptomus ruttneri (Brehm, 1923). However, it is distinguishable by characters of the male P5 such as: (1) a thick basipod in the right P5, which is as long as wide, and has an unusually large thumb-like hyaline lobe close to the inner margin on its posterior face; (2) a small spine and a narrow hyaline lamella on the inner margin; and (3) the basipod of the left P5 has a large hyaline lamella on the inner distal margin. Besides the description of T. defayeae, brief notes on the ecology and zoogeography of the genus are also given.A key for the identification of the Indian species of Tropodiaptomus, including also the new species, is provided at the end of this paper.
RÉSUMÉUne nouvelle espèce, Tropodiaptomus defayeae n. sp. du Népal, est ici proposée pour le genre Tropodiaptomus. C'est la première mention du genre au Népal. La nouvelle espèce est décrite et illustrée à partir de deux mâles et deux femelles collectés dans une mare d'eau permanente du village Ankidha près de Khatmandu, Népal. La comparaison critique de la nouvelle espèce avec ses congénères révèle qu'elle est proche de Tropodiaptomus ruttneri (Brehm, 1923). Cependant, elle s'en distingue par les caractères suivants de la P5 mâle: (1) un basipodite épais de la P5 droite, qui est aussi long que large, et possède un lobe hyalin en forme de pouce inhabituellement grand près du bord interne, face postérieure; (2) une épine petite et une lamelle hyaline étroite sur le bord interne de ce même basipodite et (3) sur le basipodite de la P5 gauche, une grande lamelle hyaline au bord distal interne. S'ajoutant à la description de T. defayeae, de brèves notes sur l'écologie et la zoogéographie du genre sont aussi fournies ainsi qu'une clé d'identification des espèces indiennes de Tropodiaptomus, en incluant la nouvelle espèce.
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