A new genus of cave-dwelling microcrustaceans from the Dinaric Region (south-east Europe): adaptations of true stygobitic Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda)статья
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Дата последнего поиска статьи во внешних источниках: 18 июля 2013 г.
Аннотация:We revise ‘true’ stygobitic cladocerans and lift three species from Alona Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Chydoridae). Species of Brancelia gen. nov. are inhabitants of saturated karst, collected in pools of residual water in the amphibious zones of a few caves in the Dinaric Region, Europe. All species are blind (regression of eye and ocellus), have elongated sensorial equipment (aesthetascs) and a short rostrum, reduced antennal spines, and a globular body. In contrast to earlier hypotheses, there is no epigean chydorid taxon from the Palaearctic that can be linked to Brancelia gen. nov. The new genus may be an offshoot of six-limbed Aloninae, but a littoral-benthic ancestor is not apparent and most likely extinct. Evolution of Brancelia gen. nov. parallels that of other subterranean Cladocera like Phreatalona Van Damme, Brancelj & Dumont, 2009. We discuss the functional morphology of
Brancelia gen. nov. and compare its adaptations to a subterranean life mode with those of Phreatalona.