Abstract
Leptochelia Vatulelensis(Crustacea: Tanaidacea), A New Species From Anchialine Caves of the South-Western PacificLeptochelia vatulelensisn. sp., discovered on the small islands of Vatulele (Fijian group) and Ouvéa (Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia), is described and illustrated. The new species is distinguished from the others of the"Leptochelia-dubiagroup" (to which it is generally similar) by the following combination of morphological characteristics: (1) the presence of three to four distal setae on the maxilliped basis; (2) merus of pereopods III and IV with only a distosternal seta; (3) endopod of the uropods formed of four (rarely three) articles; (4) males with two (sometimes three) relatively short aesthetascs on the first five articles of the antennular flagellum; (5) male cheliped with a diminished dimorphism; (6) males with a vertical comb-row of setae on the cheliped propodus. Although it inhabits inland, anchialine caves, the new species lacks morphological features that are characteristic of some cave species.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Travaux du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa"
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.