Bennelongia shieli, Martens, Halse & Schon, 2015

Martens, Koen, Halse, Stuart & Schön, Isa, 2015, On the Bennelongia nimala and B. triangulata lineages (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in Western Australia, with the description of six new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 111, pp. 1-36 : 23-24

Bennelongia shieli sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3739DA56-41CC-47FA-93A6-44BBFBFFB52E

Fig. 10 A–M

Abbreviated description

Valves in inner view ( Fig. 10 A–B, G, I) relatively high, with almost straight dorsal margin, parallel to ventral margin in RV, sloping caudally in LV; greatest height situated well in front of the middle; ventral margin anteriorly with slight mandibular curve. LV ( Fig. 10A, G ) with antero-distal il running almost along the entire anterior valve margin, almost connecting with ventral inner list; antero-proximal

il reaching halfway up along the anterior valve margin; posterior il running more than halfway up the posterior margin, tuberculate for most of its length. LV with 2-3 spines halfway up the posterior margin ( Fig. 10A, D, G ). RV ( Fig. 10B, I ) with antero-ventral lapel elongated and slightly serrate, with a large tooth ( Fig. 10B, I , K–M). Valves with external ornamentation mostly consisting of small tubercles ( Fig. 10 C–F, H). (Remark: one specimen showed a larger tooth on the antero-ventral lapel on the RV; this may be an aberrant individual).

Cp ( Fig. 10 E–F, H) with strong LV/RV overlap, but less so than in B. tirigie sp. nov., B. koendersae sp. nov. and B. muggon sp. nov. CpRL with LV forming an antero-dorsal hump over RV. CpD and CpV with greatest width situated slightly behind the middle in females, anteriorly with strongly pronounced, asymmetrical rostrum, dorsally set with parallel rows of tubercles, as in B. nimala .

Soft parts as typical of the genus.

Male unknown.

Etymology

The species is named after Dr Russell Shiel (University of Adelaide, Adelaide) in recognition of his substantial contribution to the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater invertebrates, especially rotifers and cladocerans, of Australia.

Type material

Holotype

♀ ( WAMC55626 ), with soft parts dissected in a sealed slide and valves stored dry in a micropalaeontological slide.

Paratypes

Numerous females from the type locality, either stored as the holotype, as carapaces used for SEM or in alcohol ( WAMC 55627–55631, OC3379–3380). See Table 1 for listing of specimens.

Type locality

AUSTRALIA: Munreemya Billabong, Pilbara, WA (sample PSW036 = OSTR133). Approximate coordinates: 20°40’12” S, 120°13’33.6” E. Material collected by Adrian Pinder and Harley Barron on 19 May 2004. K25 = 194 µS/cm, pH = 8.54, Temp = 23°C.

Measurements (all measurements in µm – see Table 1 for measurements of all specimens illustrated with SEM)

Holotype ♀ ( WAMC55626 ): RV: L = 1380, H = 807; LV: L = 1467, H = 888.

Differential diagnosis

In shape and valve ornamentation, the species differs from all others described here except B. nimala , which it resembles. However, B. shieli sp. nov. has a much wider anterior LV/RV overlap than B. nimala and is also about 10% smaller. In B. nimala , the anterodorsal inner list almost connects with the ventral list and clearly overlaps with the anteroventral inner list. In addition, the antero-ventral lapel on the RV is also different in both species.

Ecology and distribution

The species is known from its type locality only, a freshwater semi-permanent billabong in the northern Pilbara.

Figures

Fig. 10. Bennelongia shieli sp. nov. (all ♀, all from type locality: Munreemya Billabong, Pilbara, WA). A. LVi (holotype, WAMC55626). B. RVi (WAMC55626). C. RVe (WAMC55627). D. LVe WAMC55627). E. CpD (WAMC55628). F. CpV (WAMC55629). G. LVi (WAMC55630). H. CpRL (OC3379). I. RVi (WAMC55630). J. RVi, detail central muscle scars (WAMC55627). K. RVi, detail anterior margin (WAMC55626). L. RVi, tilted, detail anterior margin (WAMC55626). M. RVi, detail anterior margin (WAMC55630, aberrant specimen). Scales = 1 mm for A–I; 200 µm for J–M.