First record of Syncarida from Queensland, Australia, with description of two new species of Notobathynella Schminke, 1973 (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae)

Abstract

Two new species of the parabathynellid genus Notobathynella Schminke, 1973 are described from Australia: N. octocamura sp. nov. and N. pentatrichion sp. nov. Notobathynella octocamura sp. nov. has eight claws on the distal endite of the maxillule, a character that is unique in the Parabathynellidae. It is also the first species of the genus with the following characters: five setae on the terminal segment of antenna, 26–28 teeth on labrum, 31 setae on maxilla, a three-segmented exopod on thoracopod I, five-segmented exopods on thoracopods IV and V, three setae and two claws on the fourth endopodal segment of thoracopods I to IV, and six setae on the uropodal exopod. This species also has a unique setal formula for some thoracopods. Notobathynella pentatrichion sp. nov. is unique in the genus with five setae on the uropodal exopod and, like N. octocamura sp. nov., has a one- or two-segmented exopod on thoracopod I, a four- or five-segmented exopod of thoracopod V, and three setae and two claws in the four segments of the endopod of thoracopods II to IV. The two new species extend the distribution of Bathynellacea in Australia and are the first species to be described from Queensland.

Keywords:

• Syncarida
• Bathynellacea
• Parabathynellidae
• groundwater fauna
• Queensland
• Australia

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge C. Puch who helped us in various ways. Samples were collected while Peter Hancock was employed by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and we thank the Department for allowing access to piezometers. The Australian Laboratory Services Water Sciences group supported Peter Hancock during the writing of this paper. This work was supported by Convenio Junta de Castilla y León and CSIC.