Morphological types of male copulatory organs of Bicornucythere bisanensis (Ostracoda, Crustacea) and the description of a new Bicornucythere species.

Abstract

This study is designed to evaluate the male copulatory organs and carapace size of the inner bay benthic ostracod Bicornucythere bisanensis. The male copulatory organs demonstrate noticeable intraspecific variation in the distal lobe, especially the length of the tip, which shows a gradual variation; whereas the thickness of the distal lobe is conservative within the species. The population from central Japan (Aburatsubo Cove) showed remarkable morphological variations, with four copulatory organ types, each type defined by a combination of four shapes of the right and left distal lobes (Shape R, r, L, and l). While the variety of carapace morphotypes have been previously reported, our findings suggest that one morphotype from western Japan (Misumi-cho) should be treated as a distinct species. Thus, we described it as Bicornucythere misumiensis sp. nov.