Abstract
By taking Flavalona gen. nov. out of Alona s.l. (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae), the last major clade has now been removed from this polyphyletic assemblage. Flavalona gen. nov. is a monophylum defined by having three, rarely two connected head pores and slit-shaped, rarely rounded lateral head pores. Postabdomen rather long, distally narrowed, with robust marginal denticles and weakly developed lateral fascicles of setules. End-claw weakly curved and with short basal spine. Male postabdomen with gonopores opening at the end of a penis-like outgrowth. Trunk limbs: exopodite of P2 with seta; inner portion of P4 with flaming-torch shaped setae; P5 with filter plate of three setae; P6 a large simple lobe. The relationship of the new genus with other Aloninae remains to be determined. A key to the 11 species of the genus is provided and a discussion of their geographic distribution and habitat type is given.
Highlights
Species in the polyphyletic genus Alona Baird, 1843, historically the result of merging about a dozen of species groups, are similar in gross morphology by convergence (Van Damme & Dumont 2008a, 2008b; Van Damme et al 2010)
The generic status of Flavalona gen. nov. is justified by at least two autapomorphies, viz. elongated lateral head pores with pocket-like cavities, and a male postabdomen with a genital process
Genital process of male postabdomen is present in genera Leydigia and Armatalona, both quite remote from Alona s. lato
Summary
Species in the polyphyletic genus Alona Baird, 1843, historically the result of merging about a dozen of species groups, are similar in gross morphology by convergence (Van Damme & Dumont 2008a, 2008b; Van Damme et al 2010) Recent revisions of these groups have led to their assignment to a long series of genera (Dumont & Silva-Briano 2000; Sinev 2004; Sinev & Shiel 2008; Van Damme & Dumont 2008a, 2009; Van Damme et al 2009; Van Damme et al 2011; Van Damme & Sinev 2011; Van Damme & Maiphae 2013). With the assignment of the pulchella-group to Ovalona Van Damme & Dumont, 2008 (Sinev 2015b), today only few clades of Alona s.l. remain unrevised The largest of these clades is the costata-group. A generic status for the costata-group was suggested but not formally instated by Van Damme & Dumont (2008a) and by Sinev (2008)
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