Two new species of Diaptomidae (Crustacea: Copepoda: Calanoida) from the Neotropical Region (Paraná River)

Abstract

Two new species of Diaptomidae were found in the Middle Paraná River. The new species are referred to as “Diaptomus” curvatus sp. nov. and “Diaptomus” frutosae sp. nov. Important character states in “Diaptomus” curvatus include: right fifth leg with a well-developed endopod and with the lateral spine of the second exopod segment curved and longer than the segment on which it is inserted, plus the presence of a large dorsal process on urosomite 4 of the male. For “Diaptomus” frutosae they include: a differentiated hook-like process on segment 20 with chitinous protuberances at base of male right antennule; the last segment of the right leg 5 of male is triangular, and the lateral spine inserted distal to mid-level of this segment. Both species are placed in “Diaptomus” sensu lato as a temporary placement. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FECDD6C4-C0AC-4043-ADDD-F29539B451F0

Keywords:

• Copepoda
• new species
• Argentina
• Paraguay

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank to FAPESP (process 2008/02015-7 and 2009/00014-6) for financial support (to G.P.-N); MSc. Danilo Naliato, Mr José Roberto Debastiani Jr., MSc. Jorge Portinho, and Dr Silvia Casanova for help with fieldwork. We are indebted to Dr Margarita S. Frutos for valuable suggestions, scanning electron micrographs and other records of the new species; to the Electronic Microscopy Centre (CME) of UNESP/Botucatu – especially Mr Tiago dos Santos Tardivo – for help in acquiring high-quality micrographs; to Dr Edinaldo Nelson dos Santos-Silva for valuable suggestions; to Luciane Favareto for map; and also to Dr Aline Benetti for depositing vouchers in MZUSP.