Search

Indocarisgen. nov. with two new species,Indocaris imbricatasp. nov. andIndocaris inopinatasp. nov., and also for the already knownIndocaris tirupatiensis(Ranga Reddy 2011a) comb. nov. – all from the groundwaters in peninsular India. The highly diagnostic synapomorphy of the new genus is a composite character associated with the male leg 4 basis: five or six prominent, imbricate, enlarged, petal-like spinules, arranged as a semi-whorl at the insertion of the endopod and increasing in size from internal to external. Another distinctive feature of the same appendage is that its one-segmented endopod is dilated or bulbous in the proximal half, produced distally into an incurved spiniform or horn-like structure about as long as the corresponding first exopodal segment, and ornamented with three or four fine spinules on the subproximal outer margin. The three species also share a unique constellation of other salient morphologic features, which along with the phylogenetic position ofIndocarisgen. nov. within the family Parastenocarididae are discussed.Indocarisgen. nov. has closest phylogenetic affinity with the NeotropicalRemaneicariJakobi, 1972. A short note on the ecology and biogeography of the parastenocaridid species of the Indian subcontinent is provided besides a key for their identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bathynellacean, Camaehobathynella meghalayaensis n. gen., n. sp., is described from a hyporheic habitat in Meghalaya, a northeastern Indian state. This is the first Palearctic bathynellacean from India. It has very little in common with the hitherto known tropical Bathynellidae Grobben, 1905 of India and other Gondwana landmasses, but it shows some close morphological relationships with the Palearctic members of the subfamily Bathynellinae Grobben, 1905. It has a unique of constellation of characters: antennule 7-segmented, with 5 setae on segment 7; antennary endopod 5-segmented and perpendicular to antennule, and exopod without medial seta; mandible sexually isomorphic with 3-segmented palp and distinct gnathobase; maxilla 4-segmented, setal formula 6-4-6-4; Th I-VII with 4-segmented endopod; male Th VIII penile region consisting of 3 lobes, none of them denticulate, basis armed with 2 setae on inner margin, exopod bent outwards and armed with 5 setae, and endopod absent; female Th VIII with large, biarticulate epipod, exopod and endopod 1-segmented, with 2 setae each; pleopod I 2-segmented, with 6 setae on distal segment; uropodal sympod with 5 equal spines; caudal furca with 4 spines; and pleotelson with 2 dorsal moderately strong setae. Of these characters, the male Th VIII lacking endopod and the caudal furca having only four spines can be considered the autapomorphies of the new genus within in the subfamily Bathynellinae. The position of the new taxon in Bathynellidae is discussed, and a brief note on its ecology and biogeography is also added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up until now, the genus Habrobathynella Schminke, 1973 had ten species in the world. Of these, two are known from Madagascar and eight from India. Habrobathynella borraensis n. sp. is described herein from the Borra Caves, southeastern India. This is the first cavernicolous species of the genus. The species has a unique combination of characters: male Th VIII elongate, somewhat subquadrate in lateral views, with both dentate and inner lobes moderately produced and reaching about the level of exopod; outer lobe thumb-like, much shorter than basipod and fused with protopod; exopod distinct from basipod, claw-like, incurved in lateral views and with denticulate apical margin; female Th VIII in the form of triangular lobe lying anteriorly; uropodal sympod with inhomonomous row of 4 spines, ultimate spine longer and thicker than proximal ones; pleotelson protruded at postero-lateral angle and shorter than caudal furca; and maxilla with 1 normal seta on first segment. The affinities of the new species with its congeners, especially Habrobathynella nagarjunai Ranga Reddy, 2002, are briefly discussed. The paragnath morphology is illustrated afresh for seven of the eight Indian species, and its usefulness as a species- specific criterion discussed. The length of the outer seta vs. the apical, inner seta of the uropodal exopod is also proposed as a new specific feature. Furthermore, a brief note on the biogeography of the species of Habrobathynella is added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]