Distribution patterns of the Diaptomidae (Calanoida: Copepoda) in southern Africa

All freshwater calanoids in southern Africa belong to the family Diaptomidae of which there are two subfamilies, the Paradiaptominae (Lovenula, Paradiaptomus and Metadiaptomus) and Diaptominae (Tropodiaptomus and Thermodiaptomus). The Paradiaptominae are endemic to Africa, while the Diaptominae have one endemic African genus Thermodiaptomus, and the other genus Tropodiaptomus, occurs in other parts of the world as well as Africa. Knowledge of distribution of the Diaptomidae has been hampered by incomplete taxonomic knowledge and lack of co-ordination of available information. Distribution patterns of 19 described species and 11 new species confirm that the majority of species have a limited distribution, and that the Paradiaptominae are arid-adapted and belong to temporary pool communities. Six species are endemic to coastal pans and vleis of the western and southern Cape Province. Only those species with a wider distribution have been recorded as colonising man-made lakes. The four Lovenula species are predators and often co-exist with a Metadiaptomus species as prey. Synapomorphies of widely separated species of the Paradiaptominae, provide interesting insights into how their evolution may have been governed by vicariance, dispersal and palaeoenvironments of the African continent.     

Mongolodiaptomus dumonti n. sp., a new freshwater copepod (Calanoida,Diaptomidae) from Thailand

Mongolodiaptomus dumonti n. sp. from several localities in northeast Thailand is described and figured. The new species shares some features with Mongolodiaptomus gladiolus (Shen & Lee), M. calcarus (Shen & Tai) and M. rarus (Reddy, Sanoamuang & Dumont), thus the gladiolus-group is created. However, it stands out in the female, by the extraordinary large postero-laterally spine at left proximal margin of genital somite. In the male, the right caudal ramus has a large tooth and a bilobed knob on ventral side; basis of the right P5 has a distinct, spur-like process on mid-distal surface; the second exopodite-segment of the right P5 has characteristically irregular outer margin, enlarged at proximal 1/3, but narrowed at distal 2/3 and bearing three lateral spines of unequal sizes; the inner margin of basis of the left P5 is fringed with a narrow hyaline lamella and dilated distally in lateral angle.     

On nine Tropodiaptomus-species (Copepoda,Calanoida) from equatorial East Africa

Of the nine species of Tropodiaptomus occurring in Equatorial East Africa, seven are redescribed and figured in great detail. Their relationships are discussed. A primary homonym is eliminated, and types are indicated wherever possible.     

The genus Mixodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 (Copepoda,Diaptomidae) in Spain

The distribution of the Calanoid genus Mixodiaptomus was studied in a large number of pools and small lakes scattered over Spain. Four species occur: M. incrassatus, M. kupelwieseri, M. ortizi and M. laciniatus, the latter in 2 subspecies (M. laciniatus laciniatus and M. laciniatus atlantis). M. ortizi is described as a new species. M. laciniatus lives in mountains, while all other species occur in the plains. M. incrassatus is found all over the country, M. kupelwieseri only in the eastern part of Catalonia, M. laciniatus atlantis in Andalucia and M. ortizi in the central lands called Mesetas. All live in little mineralized waters and only M. incrassatus and M. laciniatus atlantis occur in clayey waters.     

Keraladiaptomus rangareddyi a new genus and new species of Diaptominae (Copepoda,Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from a temporary pond in Mattam,Kerala State,India

Calanoid copepods, belonging to the new genus and species Keraladiaptomus rangareddyi, were collected from temporary ponds in Kerala State, India. The new genus belongs to the family Diaptomidae, subfamily Diaptominae. It is described in detail and its affinity to the related genera, Arctodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 and Eodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932, discussed.     

Amended delimitation of Mongolodiaptomus against Neodiaptomus and Allodiaptomus and redescription of the little known Mongolodiaptomus uenoi (Kikuchi, 1936) from Thailand (Copepoda: Calanoida: Diaptomidae)

Mongolodiaptomus uenoi (Kikuchi, 1936), a little known diaptomid copepod from Taiwan and Indonesia, is re-described based on specimens from Thailand, and its relationship with its congeners is discussed. To clear up the generic confusion between the closely allied genera Mongolodiaptomus Kiefer, Neodiaptomus Kiefer and Allodiaptomus Kiefer, a new criterion relating to the armature of the second exopodite-segment of the male right P5 is introduced. Accordingly, some dubious species of Neodiaptomus and Allodiaptomus are transferred to Mongolodiaptomus.     

Hadodiaptomus dumonti n. gen., n. sp., a new freshwater stygobitic calanoid (Crustacea: Copepoda: Calanoida) from Vietnam (South Asia) and a new member of the subfamily Speodiaptominae Borutzky, 1962

A new species of freshwater stygobitic calanoid, Hadodiaptomus dumonti n. gen., n. sp., from a cave in Vietnam (South Asia) is described. It is the ninth taxon from the order Calanoida described from freshwater subterranean (i.e. cave) environments. It is the fourth member of the subfamily Speodiaptominae Borutzky, 1962. It differs from stygobitic taxa in Europe and Mexico by numerous characters, especially in the armature of P1–P5, antenullas, mouth parts and genital segments in both sexes. Arthrodial membrane development from CII to CV is different from epigean as well as from subterranean taxa. These differences suffice to raise a new genus–Hadodiaptomus, characterised by two-segmented exopodites and endopodites of P1–P4 and reduced P5 endopodites in both sexes. Males are without widened segments 13–18 on right A1. Relations with other stygobitic taxa of the subfamily Speodiaptominae are discussed.     

Paradiaptomus peninsularis, P. hameri and P. warreni, three new species of Paradiaptomus (Calanoida: Diaptomidae) from South Africa

Three new species of Paradiaptomus from southern Africa are described, Paradiaptomus peninsularis, P. hameri and P. warreni. Paradiaptomus peninsularis occurs in temporary blackwater pools on the peninsula of the Western Cape province, P. hameri in saline pools in the Western Cape province and P. warreni in mountain tarns in the Drakensberg Range in Kwazulu Natal and Lesotho. The genus Paradiaptomus was first established by Sars (1895) for Paradiaptomus lamellatus. There are five described species of Paradiaptomus endemic to Africa ( lamellatus, schultzei, similis, natalensis and rex) and P. greeni from India and Sri Lanka. The three new species have highly-weighted morphological characters which set them apart from each other and from any of the described species of Paradiaptomus.     

Redescription and distribution of Mastigodiaptomus montezumae (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae) in Mexico

Mastigodiaptomus montezumae is redescribed on the basis of material from several localities in Mexico. It is characterized by an asymmetrical fifth pediger in both sexes. It appears to be restricted to central Mexico, where it is quite common. It is associated with M. albuquerquensis and occasionally with L. siciloides and Leptodiaptomus novamexicanus.     

Distribution and biogeography of the Paradiaptominae (Copepoda: Calanoida: Diaptomidae)

The Paradiaptominae, a subfamily of the large Diaptomidae family, is a small group of freshwater calanoids of which 24 species in four genera have been described. They are endemic to Africa with the exception of four species, Metadiaptomus asiaticus (Asia and Mongolia), M. gauthieri (Africa and Madagascar), Paradiaptomus greeni (India and Sri Lanka) and Neolovenula alluaudi (Canary Islands, North Africa, Baltic and Mediterranean countries). The North African species Metadiaptomus chevreuxi extends its range into Iraq and Iran. The Paradiaptominae are widely distributed in semi-permanent water bodies in the drier areas of Africa although most individual species have a restricted distribution. Only a few species have the ability to colonise permanent waters and these species are usually located at higher altitudes. The Paradiaptominae have not been recorded from the wet equatorial lowland areas of Africa. It seems likely that they are Gondwanian in origin as evidenced by their distribution (Africa, Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka). Neolovenula alluaudi (Mediterranean) shares morphological characters tenuously linked to the other species in the group and may either have a different origin or have branched off at an early stage in evolution of the group.     

A new species of Tropodiaptomus (Gopepoda, Calanoida) from Lake Turkana, Kenya

Tropodiaptomus turkanae sp. nov. is described from Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph), Kenya. After years of confusion with T. banforanus , the identity of this taxon as an endemic of Lake Turkana is established. The species is described, and its relationship with other Tropodiaptomus species discussed.     

The distribution of brackish water Calanoida (Copepoda) along the coasts of Brazil

The distribution of 18 species of Calanoida Copepoda found in the estuaries of the Brazilian coast is analyzed. A slight tendency of a latitudinal decrease in diversity, from North to South is found. Salinity ranges from the different species are discussed and in some cases interspecific vicariance patterns are found. Two basic types of estuaries of the Brazilian coast are characterized on the basis of environmental parameters and population dynamics.     

A new species of Notodiaptomus Kiefer, 1936 (Copepoda,Diaptomidae) from the Amazon and Orinoco River Basins

A new species of Notodiaptomus, Notodiaptomus simillimus sp. nov., based on the female originally but erroneously assigned to Rhacodiaptomus calatus, and the corresponding newly discovered male, is described and illustrated in detail. The designation of the female as a new species of Notodiaptomus, and the recognition of the corresponding new male, is based on detailed morphological and biometrical studies, analysis of the known distribution and material from laboratory cultures. Morphological analysis demonstrated that the female shares the form of the external genital area and setal armature of the exopod 2 of leg 5 with other species of Notodiaptomus but they differ from those exhibited by species of Rhacodiaptomus. The distributions of the female and male assigned to Notodiaptomus simillimus sp. nov. overlap and include the Atabapo and Guaviare Rivers and Lago Calado. On the other hand, the distributions of the males and females originally assigned to R. calatus are disjunct and where they overlap, that is, in Lago Calado, each is accompanied by its respective mate. Laboratory cultures showed that, as expected, copulation did not occur between males and females described originally as R. calatus. This experiment demonstrated the existence of reproductive isolating mechanisms between these females and males, and confirmed the existence of two distinct genetic pools, i.e. two different species, the original males being of the valid R. calatus and the female a new Notodiaptomus. This female and the corresponding newly discovered male are N. simillimus. The new species is closely related to N. coniferoides.     

A new species of Phyllodiaptomus Kiefer (Copepoda,Calanoida) from South India

Phyllodiaptomus sasikumari, a new species of calanoid copepod is described from the material collected in several ephemeral ponds and pools in the Palghat District of Kerala State, South India.     

On Gaussia Wolfenden (Copepoda,Calanoida, Metridinidae)

Aspects of the female genital segment with and without attached couplers and enclosed spermatophores are studied of Gaussia specimens collected in the SW Atlantic and SE Pacific. A new species found in the SW Atlantic, Gaussia asymmetrica, is proposed.     

North American Glyptodontines (Xenarthra, Mammalia) in the Upper Pleistocene of northern South America

The Glyptodontidae is one of the most conspicuous groups in the Pleistocene megafauna of the Americas. The Glyptodontinae were involved in the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) and their earliest records in North America are about 3.9 Ma, suggesting an earlier formation of the Panamanian landbridge. Taxonomically it is possible to recognize two Pleistocene genera of Glyptodontinae:Glyptodon (ca. 1.8 – 0.008 Ma), restricted to South America, andGlyptotherium (ca. 2.6 – 0.009 Ma), including records in both North and Central America. Here we present the first report of the genusGlyptotherium in South America, from the Late Pleistocene of several fossil localities in Falcón State, northwestern Venezuela. A comparative analysis of the material, represented by cranial and postcranial parts, including the dorsal carapace and caudal rings, suggests a close affinity withGlyptotherium cylindricum (Late Pleistocene of Central Mexico). This occurrence in the latest Pleistocene of the northernmost region of South America Supports the bidirectional faunal migration during the GABI and the repeated re-immigration from North America of South American clades, as has been reported in other members of the Cingulata (e.g., Pampatheriidae).      

A new species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878 (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Dynastinae) from South America

A second species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878, Amblyodus castroi sp. n., is described from the northern South America based on 12 specimens from Brazil and Peru (Amazonian subregion). The new species is here compared with the type species of the genus, Amblyodus taurus Westwood, 1878 and both species and their male genitalia are illustrated. Diagnostic characters for the genus are discussed, especially the metatibial teeth. A distribution map including the type species and the new species is provided. The genus Amblyodus is recorded for the first time from Peru and from Brazil states of Pará and Rondônia.     

A new Hesperodiaptomus Light (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from Mexico with comments on the distribution of the genus

A new species of the freshwater planktonic copepod genus Hesperodiaptomusis described from material collected in several water bodiesin the state of Morelos, central Mexico. Hesperodiaptomus morelensisn. sp. differs from its congeners in having a very reduced endopodon the male fifth right leg, and a hook-shaped cuticular processon the inner margin of the first exopodal segment of the sameleg. Besides other characters of the female fifth legs, thenew species has a distinctive genital somite, with asymmetricallateral wing-like processes. This species seems to be closelyrelated to H. kiseri mainly because of similarities betweenthe male fifth legs and the structure of the female genitalsomite. This predominantly nearctic genus is known to be distributedmainly in north-western and central North America, althougha few species have been recorded in north-eastern Asia (Siberia).Hesperodiaptomus has not been recorded previously south of California.Apparently, this genus radiated in North America and spreadin different directions. The apparent disjunct distributionof at least two species (including the new one) could be explainedas resulting from a previous extensive radiation related toglaciation and consequent post-glacial repopulation that mighthave left these forms as stranded remnants, or by dispersalprocesses: central Mexico is connected with North America bytwo high-altitude potential passages. The new species seemsto be restricted to a high altitude area in Mexico. It seemsunlikely that species of Hesperodiaptomus will be recorded furthersouth on the American continent.