A new species of Flavalona Sinev & Dumont, 2016 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Here we describe a new species of Flavalona Sinev & Dumont, 2016 (Cladocera: Chydoridae) based on material from Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. F. darkovi sp. nov. clearly differs from other species of Flavalona known to date by fine ornamentation of valves, proportions of head pores, proximal exopod spine and seta on the middle exopod segment of antenna II. This species may be considered as endemic taxon of high mountain water bodies of Bale Mountains at an altitude of about 4000 m.a.s.l. Investigated species of the genus Flavalona in Africa demonstrate strong local mountain endemism accompanied by morphological differences between closest taxa, but the real diversity of this group in Africa is underestimated yet, and further studies are urgently need. Since the high mountain water ecosystems in Africa are especially vulnerable to increasing anthropogenic impact and global climate warming, it is necessary to speed up the studies of high mountain invertebrates and develop special measures for protection of such ecosystems.

Re-evaluation of the genus Biapertura Smirnov, 1971 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)

The genus Biapertura Smirnov, 1971, with type species B. affinis (= Lynceus affinis Leydig, 1860) is re-evaluated, removing the affinis-group from polyphyletic Alona s. lato. Biapertura s. str. is a taxon which could be defined by large size (up to 1.1 mm), having head shield with triangular posterior portion and two connected major head pores, and by having massive postabdomen with over 10 well-developed composite marginal denticles and well-developed lateral fascicles of setulae. Thoracic limbs of Biapertura are of Hexalona-type, inner distal lobe of limb I bear extremely large, usually claw-like seta 1. Australian species of the genus, B. kendallensis (Henry, 1919) and B. elliptica (Sinev, 1997), are fully redescribed here. Morphological analysis suggests that Biapertura s. str. is a sister-group to Alona s. str. A key to seven species of the genus is provided and a discussion of their geographic distribution and habitat type is given.

Compound slides: a new technique for examining branchiopod head pores in optical microscopes

A new technique for the optimization of the taxonomic study of cephalic openings in Branchiopoda is proposed here. The study of the cephalic openings in the various taxa that constitute this clade is of great importance. This is true not only for taxonomic studies, being fundamental for species identification in the Chydoridae, but also for phylogenetic and physiological investigations. For this, currently available protocols include the use of electron microscopic analysis, using the whole specimen, or the use of optical microscopy, by removing the cephalic shield from the specimen and mounting it on slides. This work presents a simple technique for the study of cephalic openings in Branchiopoda, facilitating their study, particularly for those associated with the Chydoridae.

COMPOSITION OF CLADOCERA SPECIES DIVERSITY AND THE REDESCRIPTION OF SPECIES GRIMALDINA BRAIZZA RICHARD, 1892 (MACROTRICIDAE, ANOMOPODA, BRANCHIOPODA) FOR ZOOPLANKTON FAUNA OF VIETNAM

Cladocera is investigated in waterbodies of Vinh Long province during 2013 to 2014. Samples were collected from eight stations. 18 cladocera species belonging to 14 genus, 7 family, 2 order and 1 class were observed. In that, 14 species were recorded in 2013, and 15 species were recorded in 2014. The species composition of order Anomopoda always dominates in waterbodies. The species Grimaldina brazzai Richard, 1892 (Macrotricidae, Anomopoda, Branchiopoda) are redescribed from material collected in Co Chien river of Vinh Long province in 2013. The results have identified 04 female individuals, but no male individuals of G. brazzai are recorded. Morphological characteristics of G. brazzai are as descriptive as Richard (1892), Brook (1956) and Idris (1983). Morphological characteristics of Grimaldina và G. brazzai female are described and illustrated details by Optikam and Adobe Illustrator CS5. Some morphology characters used to identify, e.g., eye, head pores, Labral plate, Antennule I - II, postabdomen. The genus Grimaldina comprises only one species G. brazzai. This species has been recorded in lakes and rice fields of Brazil, Thailan, Lao, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore, rare species. The first time in Vietnam Shirota (1966) was recorded this species in South Vietnam, but he has not describe.

A new genus and species of congrid eel from the Philippines (Anguillliformes: Congridae: Bathymyrinae)

Rostroconger macrouriceps sp. nov. is described from a single specimen collected off the east coast of Luzon, Philippines. It is a member of the subfamily Bathymyrinae, differing from all others in the presence of a bony rostrum extending from the anterior end of the snout. The posterior nostril opens into a slit in the upper lip and is not visible externally. The head pores are reduced in size and number; only three pores are present in the infraorbital canal, four in the supraorbital canal, and none in the preopercular or supratemporal canals.

The congrid eel genus Ariosoma in Taiwan (Anguilliformes: Congridae), with description of a new species

A review of the congrid eel genus Ariosoma in Taiwan is provided. Eight species are recognized, including A. anago (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846), A. dolichopterum Karmovskaya, 2015, A. fasciatum (Günther, 1872), A. majus (Asano, 1958), A. megalops Fowler, 1938, A. meeki (Jordan & Snyder, 1900), A. shiroanago (Asano, 1958) and a new species which is described based on types and non-types collected from off southwestern Taiwan. These species can be distinguished from each other by the coloration, numbers of head pores, lateral-line pores and vertebrae. A key to all Taiwanese Ariosoma species is provided.

Relocation of Alona manueli Sinev & Zawisza 2013 and a new closely related species from the Ecuadorian Andes to the new genus Alpinalona (Cladocera, Chydoridae, Aloninae)

Alpinalona gen. nov. is described for two species found in high altitude localities of continental North America and South America: Alona manueli (Sinev & Zawisza, 2013) from the Neovolcanic Mexican Axis and Alpinalona cajasi gen. et sp. nov from El Cajas National Park (Ecuador). The new genus is separated from Hexalona and allies by the absence of limb VI and filter plate V; from Anthalona, Coronatella and the elegans-group by having seven setae on exopodite III, and by the presence of a well-developed seta 1 on the IDL of limb III; from Alona s. str. (quadrangularis-group) and Ovalona, by two main head pores, lateral head pores located close to main pores, and by a bilobed exopodite V; from Ovalona by the presence of seta (i) and inner setae 2–3 on limb I, and setae 4–5 of exopodite III being of same size; and from Alona s. lato by weakly developed marginal denticles of postabdomen, clusters of thin setulae on ventral surface of limb I, and by plumose setae 5–6 of exopodite IV. Alpinalona cajasi sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from A. manueli by the following characteristics: prominent posterodorsal angle of carapace; broader headshield; longer PP distance; and postanal marginal denticles organized into groups.

New genus of Cladocera of subfamily Aloninae (Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from the Mekong River

A rheophylous cladoceran, Rheoalona mekongensis sp. nov., gen. nov. (Anomopoda: Chydoridae: Aloninae) is described from the Mekong River, South-East Asia. Rheoalona gen. nov. belongs to the Coronatella-branch of Aloninae, it differs from Karualona Dumont & Silva-Briano, 2000 in absence of seta 1 of IDL of thoracic limb I and by particularly strong lateral setae of postabdomen; from Anthalona Van Damme, Sinev & Dumont, 2011 in a wide connection between major head pores, lack of cosmaria, and two-flaming torch setae of limb IV; and from Coronatella Dybowski & Grochowski, 1894 in two major head pores, very small elementary denticles of postabdomen, and a very small basal spine of postabdominal claw. R. mekongensis sp. nov. is specially adapted for dwelling in the upper layer of fine sediments of turbid rivers. Our finding stress the importance of sampling in riverine habitats for the full inventories of the cladoceran fauna.

Revision of the costata-group of Alona s. lato (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) confirms its generic status

By taking Flavalona gen. nov. out of Alona s.l. (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae), the last major clade has now been removed from this polyphyletic assemblage. Flavalona gen. nov. is a monophylum defined by having three, rarely two connected head pores and slit-shaped, rarely rounded lateral head pores. Postabdomen rather long, distally narrowed, with robust marginal denticles and weakly developed lateral fascicles of setules. End-claw weakly curved and with short basal spine. Male postabdomen with gonopores opening at the end of a penis-like outgrowth. Trunk limbs: exopodite of P2 with seta; inner portion of P4 with flaming-torch shaped setae; P5 with filter plate of three setae; P6 a large simple lobe. The relationship of the new genus with other Aloninae remains to be determined. A key to the 11 species of the genus is provided and a discussion of their geographic distribution and habitat type is given.