﻿Two new Cypridopsinae Kaufmann, 1900 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from southern Africa.

Agata Szwarc,Koen Martens,Tadeusz Namiotko

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1076.76123

Abstract

Two new Cypridopsinae ostracods, Potamocyprismeissnerisp. nov. and Sarscypridopsisharundinetisp. nov. are described. Both were found only as asexual (all-female) populations in temporary waters of southern Africa. Potamocyprismeissneri was collected from a small pan in the North-West Province of South Africa. It is approximately 0.5 mm long and belongs to the species group with long swimming setae on the second antennae. However, the species has a somewhat isolated position in the genus owing to the conspicuously reticulated carapace, which is furthermore densely covered by prominent conuli with normal pores carrying long sensilla, as well as to the wide anterior and posterior flanges on the left valve. To allow identification of the new species in relation to its closest congeners, a key to the species of the genus Potamocypris Brady, 1870 from southern Africa is provided. The genus Sarscypridopsis McKenzie, 1977 mostly has an Afrotropical distribution with only few species occurring in other regions. Sarscypridopsisharundineti was collected from floodplains of the outskirts of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It is approximately 0.4 mm long and can be distinguished from congeners mainly by the smaller and more oval-shaped valves. We conclude that southern African Cypridopsinae urgently need integrated taxonomic revision, by means of both morphological characters and DNA-sequence data.

Highlights

Ostracods, small bivalved crustaceans, have an impressive taxonomic diversity and functional specialisation of their appendages, which are used for locomotion, feeding, and reproduction (Meisch 2000; Smith et al 2015)
The genus Sarscypridopsis McKenzie, 1977 mostly has an Afrotropical distribution with only few species occurring in other regions
Sarscypridopsis harundineti was collected from floodplains of the outskirts of the Okavango Delta in Botswana

Summary

Introduction

Small bivalved crustaceans, have an impressive taxonomic diversity and functional specialisation of their appendages, which are used for locomotion, feeding, and reproduction (Meisch 2000; Smith et al 2015). They commonly occur in both marine and non-marine habitats, from the oceans and estuaries, over deep lakes to small temporary pools, phytotelmata or troughs, as well as subterranean waters and even semi-terrestrial environments (Mesquita-Joanes et al 2012; Smith et al 2015). The present paper constitutes a contribution to the knowledge of the poorly known freshwater ostracod fauna of southern Africa and presents the first comprehensive description of a species of the genus Sarscypridopsis with full illustration of valves and appendages

Materials and methods

Discussion