Vestalenula, Rossetti & Martens, 1998

Ma, Shunxin & Yu, Na, 2020, Freshwater ostracods (Crustacea) from Hainan Island, southern China, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4767 (2), pp. 201-243 : 235

Vestalenula sp.

Figures 33 and 34 .

Material examined: Two females from JFL15, one female ( ECNU 20170413/HN43) dissected.

Dimension: Female, RV, n = 1, length 0.452 mm, height 0.229 mm.

Description: LV overlapping RV both anteriorly and posteriorly ( Fig. 33A ). Posterior end wider than anterior. Dorsal margin slightly arched. Keel on RV short ( Fig. 33B ). Ventral seta on the third segment of A1 absent ( Fig. 34A ). Exopodite on A2 with one long seta. Both claws on terminal segment (GM and Gm) approximately same lengths ( Fig. 34B ). UR base narrow. P-abd short and without any seta ( Fig. 34C ).

Distribution: This species was found in Jianfengling National Forest Park on Hainan Island.

Remarks: According to the following characters: L/H of the carapace smaller than 2.2, P-abd without seta, third segment of the A1 without ventro-apical seta, shape of the UR base, this species is similar to Vestalenula spec. D, Rossetti & Martens, 1999, but this species can be distinguished from Vestalenula spec. D by the following characters: the dorsal margin is extremely straight in Vestalenula spec. D but slightly arched in Vestalenula sp. from Hainan; claw Gm on the A 2 in Vestalenula sp. from Hainan is much longer than that of Vestalenula spec. D. ( Pinto et al. 2013; Rossetti & Martens 1999).

Only two females were collected in April 2017 during our two collection trips. The number of specimens is insufficient to provide a full description of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 33. Vestalenula sp. Female. ECNU20170413/HN43.A, dorsal view, anterior to the right; B, internal view of RV. Scale bars: 100 μm.

FIGURE 34. Vestalenula sp. Female. ECNU20170413/HN43. A, A1; B, A2; C, P-abd and UR. Scale bars: 100 μm.