Interstitial harpacticoids from groundwater in Tuscany (Central Italy): Parastenocaris reidae sp. nov., Nitocrella ensifera sp. nov., and notes on the morphology of Parastenocaris cf. glacialis Noodt (Crustacea: Copepoda)

Abstract

Two new interstitial harpacticoids were recently collected from groundwater in Tuscany (Central Italy). The Parastenocarididae Parastenocaris reidae sp. nov. was collected from both phreatic and hyporheic habitats of River Serchio, Lucca province, together with specimens of Parastenocaris cf. glacialis Noodt. We describe and discuss the affinities of the former species, and give a preliminary description of the latter. Nitocrella ensifera sp. nov. was collected from the phreatic habitat of Fiora River, Grosseto, and from a well in the same area; this new species is described and its affinities are discussed.