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Abstract
A new genus and species of Syncarida, family Parabathynellidae, is described from China. Sinobathynella decamera n. g. n. sp. is one of the world's largest known Bathynellacea species (3.7 mm) and displays several exclusive characters: 10 segments in the antennule, exopod of thoracopods 3–7 with 10 segments and thoracopod 8 female with two spines and two long setae. The new species also has a unique combination of characters: an antennule with 10 segments; antenna with six segments; pars incisiva of the mandible with three teeth and pars molaris with 14 teeth; distal endite of maxillule with seven claws; epipods present in thoracopods 3–7; an absence of pleopods; endopod of thoracopod 8 male with two long setae; 20 spines on the sympod, and three or four spines on the endopod of the uropod. This is the first time that the Bathynellacea (family Parabathynellidae) has been found in China, extending the range of distribution of this taxon in Asia.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Li Dajiang (Bawangling, China) and Zhou Jiang (Guijang, China), for their company and help during the expedition, and to the workers of Bawangling Forestry Bureau for their assistance during the field work. We thank Boris Sket (Ljubljana, Slovenia) for the preliminary identification of the collected material. The explorations were carried out with an invitation and financial support from the Bawangling Forestry Bureau. We thank C. Puch and A. G. Valdecasas who have helped us in various ways. We thank Sara Young who helped us with the English translations. This work was supported by project EVK2‐CT‐2001‐00121 (European Projects PASCALIS) and Convenio Junta de Castilla y León and CSIC.