Troglocaris (Troglocaris) anophthalmus ocellata, Jugovic, Jure, Jalžić, Branko, Prevorčnik, Simona & Sket, Boris, 2012

Jugovic, Jure, Jalžić, Branko, Prevorčnik, Simona & Sket, Boris, 2012, Cave shrimps Troglocaris s. str. (Dormitzer, 1853), taxonomic revision and description of new taxa after phylogenetic and morphometric studies, Zootaxa 3421, pp. 1-31 : 9-10

Troglocaris (Troglocaris) anophthalmus ocellata ssp. nov.

Synonymy: Troglocaris (Troglocaris) – the E-Slo2 subgroup Zakšek et al., 2009; Troglocaris anopthalmus intermedia Gottstein Matočec, 2003 and Franjević, 2006, p.p. (from Kukuruzovića špilja, Croatia).

Type locality: Slovenia, Vinica, cave Jama v kamnolomu.

Type sample: Males: adult male (TB046, holotype), CL 7.8 mm, Vinica, cave Jama v kamnolomu, Slovenia, 45°27'15.14" N, 15°14'39.17" E, June 1977, collected by M. Štangelj, specimen partly dissected, preserved in 70 % ethanol. Other males: adult male (TB045; preserved in 70 % ethanol), 7.5 mm; adult male (TB047; preserved in 70 % ethanol), 8.2 mm; same data as holotype. Females: 2 adult females, TB049 (CL 8.8 mm); TB050 (CL 8.4 mm, collected 27th May 1974) (all preserved in 70 % ethanol); same data as holotype.

Other specimens examined: over 50 specimens from 8 samples ( Figure 1 , Appendix C2). Males, CL 4.7–8.3 mm. Females, CL 5.0–9.0 mm. Voucher numbers and GenBank identification numbers for COI gene are in Appendix C2.

Diagnosis: Subspecies of T. (T.) anophthalmus comprising populations with mostly pigmented eye rudiments (in more than 90 % of analysed specimens; see Appendix C2 for exact localities). In mature males, appendix interna with no retinacular hooks distally, not exceeding lamina in length.

Etimology: Ocellata - adjective from Latin ocellus – with a small eye (rudiment in this case).

Remarks: In samples from Dolenjske Toplice (cave Sušica, 1 specimen) and Črnomelj (cave Stobe, 4 specimens) no specimen had pigmented eye rudiments, despite their placement in the E-Slo2 subgroup in the ITS 2 and COI based phylogenetic trees (Zakšek et al., 2009). It should be noted, however, that the discriminant function analysis was run on T. (T.) a. ocellata together with T. (T.) a. anophthalmus and T. (T.) a. intermedia , as a monophylum. Therefore the appropriate differential description for T. (T.) anophthalmus ocellata is missing and only the eye specifics and data on retinacular hooks on male pleopod I are given (see also Material and methods).

Distribution: Bela Krajina (extreme SE Slovenia), contiguous to the area of T. (T.) a. anophthalmus (located north westerly). Considering only the exsistence of pigmented eye rudiment also the population of the geographicaly remote Kukuruzoviċa špilja near Rakovica ( Croatia, at the NW Bosnian border) should be assigned to T. (T.) a. ocellata ( Figure 1 ).

Troglocaris (Troglocaris) anophthalmus intermedia Babi ć, 1922

Synonymy: Troglocaris schmidti var. intermedia Babić, 1922 ; Troglocaris intermedia d'Udekem d'Acoz, 1999 ; nec Troglocaris anopthalmus intermedia Gottstein Matočec, 2003 and Franjević, 2006, from Kukuruzovića špilja ( Croatia). Type locality: Croatia, Ogulin, Slunj-Tounj, Mikašinovići, Mikašinovića pećina (= pećina Zala).

Specimens examined: 29 specimens from Mikašinovića pećina ( Figure 1 , Appendix C3). Only specimens collected from Mikašinovića pećina have been attributed to this subspecies. Voucher numbers and GenBank identification numbers for COI gene are in Appendix C3.

Preliminary (see remarks) diagnosis: Specimens from the type locality without pigmented eye rudiments and with rostrum length less than 35 % of CL. In mature males, appendix interna with no retinacular hooks distally, not exceeding lamina in length.

Remarks and distribution: Presently certified only from Mikašinoviċa peċina, but morphologically similar populations are known from the vicinity (they were too old to be analysed molecularly): wider Ogulin area, e. g. cave Privis and cave Rudnica (see Figure 1 , Appendix C3). The appropriate morphological characterisation of the subspecies will be possible when fresh samples for the molecular analysis will be obtained from the mentioned area. Since the rostral length in Troglocaris s. str. seems to be dependent on the presence of the predatory Proteus anguinus Laurenti (see Jugovic et al., 2010b), we can not admit the identification of the subspecies only on the basis of this character (rostral length was used as a key character in original description). The lack of pigment in the eye rudiments distinguishes this population from the geographically closest T. (T.) a. ocellata . In the COI based phylogenetic tree, the population from Mikašinoviċa peċina is separated from T. (T.) a. anophthalmus and T. (T.) a. ocellata , but splits are weakly supported.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of eight taxa of the subgenus Troglocaris s. str., with phylogroup / subgroup designation (in brackets, as in Zakšek et al. 2009). Different symbols denote taxa, their coloration denotes method of the analysis: black – molecular and morphometric analysis; grey – morphometric analysis; white – molecular analysis.