Megastygonitocrella trispinosa ( Karanovic, 2006 ) Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Karanovic, Tomislav & Hancock, Peter, 2009, On the diagnostic characters of the genus Stygonitocrella (Copepoda, Harpacticoida), with descriptions of seven new species from Australian subterranean waters 2324, Zootaxa 2324 (1), pp. 1-85 : 69-77

Megastygonitocrella trispinosa ( Karanovic, 2006) comb. nov.

( Fig. 17 )

Synonymy. Stygonitocrella trispinosa sp. nov. – Karanovic 2006: p. 181, figs 89–93 & 113.

Material examined. One adult male dissected on one slide together with paratype female of Megastygonitocrella ecowisei sp. nov. ( WAM C37354); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Floyd , bore PDPIEZ11B, sample #4110, 10 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’25”S 119°08’40”E .

One adult male dissected on one slide together with one female of Diacyclops humphreysi humphreysi Pesce & De Laurentiis, 1996 ( WAM C37355); one male and three adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37356); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Floyd , bore PDPIEZ04, sample #4109, 10 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’17”S 119°09’21”E .

Three adult males, eight adult females and four copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37357); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDRC160 , sample #4129, 07 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’39”S 119°07’55”E .

One adult male, 25 adult females and two copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37358); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDRC309 , sample #4130, 07 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’36”S 119°07’50”E .

Fifteen adult males, 23 adult females and 13 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37359); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDRC310 , sample #4131, 07 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’38”S 119°07’51”E .

Fifty-one adult males, 21 adult females and 63 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37360); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDRC468 , sample #4133, 07 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’33”S 119°11’18”E .

Thirteen adult males, 39 adult females and 22 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37361); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine , bore PDPIEZ02, sample #4134, 07 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, coordinates not provided .

Twenty-seven adult males, 79 adult females and 41 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37362); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDTEST01, sample #4135, 07 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’37”S 119°07’49”E .

Two adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37363); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Lena , bore LRNC015 , sample #4138, 03 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°22’17”S 119°04’22”E .

Two adult males, six females and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37364); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Dean , bore PDRC677 , sample #4139, 08 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’53”S 119°08’33”E .

Twenty-eight adult males, 22 adult females and 54 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37365); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Dean , bore PDRC679 , sample #4140, 08 February 2008, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’53”S 119°08’33”E .

Twenty-eight adult males, 45 adult females and 100 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37366); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Dean , bore PDRC681 , sample #4141, 08 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’55”S 119°08’33”E .

Forty-three adult males, 21 adult females and 32 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37367); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC090 , sample #4155, 11 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’10”S 119°08’35”E .

Nine adult males, 17 adult females and 37 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37368); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC092 , sample #4156, 11 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’09”S 119°08’37”E .

One adult male and one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37369); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC188 , sample #4159, 02 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’10”S 119°08’34”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37370); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC248 , sample #4164, 11 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’11”S 119°08’38”E .

Five adult females and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37371); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC254 , sample #4166, 03 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’12”S 119°08’41”E .

Seven adult males, 17 adult females and seven copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37372); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC257 , sample #4168, 03 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’10”S 119°08’41”E .

One adult male and two adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37373); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC258 , sample #4169, 03 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’11”S 119°08’41”E .

Eleven adult males, six adult females and four copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37374); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC260 , sample #4171, 04 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’08”S 119°08’27”E .

One adult male preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37375); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC261 , sample #4172, 04 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’08”S 119°08’28”E .

One copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37376); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDRC518 , sample #4177, 11 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’11”S 119°08’28”E .

Twenty adult males, 15 adult females and seven copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37377); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDPIEZ06, sample #4178, 03 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’09”S 119°08’25”E .

Five adult males, one adult female and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37378); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDPIEZ08, sample #4179, 02 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’11”S 119°08’32”E .

Six adult males, 41 adult females and 16 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37379); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDPIEZ08, sample #4180, 02 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’11”S 119°08’32”E .

One adult male, two adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37380); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PDTEST02, sample #4182, 03 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’09”S 119°08’31”E .

One adult male and two adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37381); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Olivia , bore PDRC162 , sample #4196, 09 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°16’20”S 119°05’44”E .

Two adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37382); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Olivia , bore PDRC165 , sample #4196, 09 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°16’19”S 119°06’48”E .

One adult male and one adult female dissected together on one slide ( WAM C37383); two adult males, one adult female and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37384); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWPControl1, sample FBN025, 05 December 2007, leg. V . Campagna, 20°46’33”S 117°39’36”E.

Twenty-five adult males, 16 adult females and 10 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37385); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWPControl2, sample FBN026, 05 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’40”S 117°39’59”E .

Nineteen adult males, 20 adult females and four copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37386); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWPControl4, sample FBN027, 05 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’38”S 117°40’26”E .

Four adult males, one adult female and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37387); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWP011, sample FBN028, 05 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’27”S 117°40’42”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37388); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWP025, sample FBN030, 05 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’30”S 117°41’52”E .

Nine adult males, 15 adult female and five copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37389); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBDW01 , sample FBN031, 06 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’50”S 117°46’33”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37390); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBR261, sample FBN033, 06 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’44”S 117°46’13”E .

One adult female almost completely disintegrated and preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37391); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBMB008 , sample FBN034, 04 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’20”S 117°46’43”E .

Two adult males and 10 adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37392); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 76DWP001, sample FBN039, 04 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’24”S 117°44’00”E .

Fifteen adult males, 20 adult females and 19 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37393); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 76DWP002, sample FBN040, 04 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’35”S 117°43’48”E .

One adult male, two adult females and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37394); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 99CWP011, sample FBN042, 06 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’22”S 117°47’25”E .

Two adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37395); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBR071, sample FBN044, 04 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’34”S 117°45’36”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37396); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla, Black Well impact bore, sample FBN045, 06 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’24”S 117°44’01”E .

One adult male, one adult female and two copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37397); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla, Lauren Bore , sample FBN047, 07 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°47’28”S 117°40’52”E .

Six adult males, two adult females and five copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37398); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla, Airstrip Bore , sample FBN048, 07 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°50’16”S 117°48’24”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37399); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 76DWP007, sample FBN051, 06 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’46”S 117°43’28”E .

One damaged adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37400); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP04 , sample FBN057, 07 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’05”S 117°46’38”E .

One damaged adult male and abdomen of one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37401); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBDW01 , sample FBN058, 06 December 2007, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’50”S 117°46’33”E .

One adult male, decomposed and badly damaged, dissected on one slide ( WAM C37402); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Spinifex Ridge , bore SRC057, 08 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°53’32”S 120°06’35”E .

Three adult males, six adult females and 10 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37403); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Spinifex Ridge , bore SRC073, 08 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°53’17”S 120°06’09”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37404); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Spinifex Ridge, bore Box Soak , 08 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°55’42”S 119°58’32”E .

One adult female dissected on one slide ( WAM C37405); three adult males, one adult female and two copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37406); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Spinifex Ridge , bore SRC057, 14 February 2008, leg. B. Harley & M. Scanlon, 20°53’32”S 120°06’35”E .

One adult female dissected on one slide ( WAM C37407); six adult females and two copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37408); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDRC309 , 06 December 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’36”S 119°07’50”E .

Four adult males, three adult females and two copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37409); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP17 , sample FBN086, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’23”S 117°46’03”E .

Four adult males and 14 adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37410); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP06 , sample FBN087, 05 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’19”S 117°45’48”E .

Two adult males and two adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37411); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP09 , sample FBN088, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°47’14”S 117°48’19”E .

Four adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37412); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP10 , sample FBN089, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’56”S 117°48’19”E .

Five adult males, 11 adult females and six copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37413); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP12 , sample FBN091, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°47’48”S 117°47’10”E .

Two adult males, four adult females and 2 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37414); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP16 , sample FBN092, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°48’03”S 117°45’26”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37415); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBWP19 , sample FBN094, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°47’39”S 117°46’45”E .

Eighty-seven adult males, 126 adult females and 149 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37416); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC309 , 28 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’36”S 119°07’51”E .

Six adult males, 38 adult females and 37 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37417); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC317 , 28 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’37”S 119°07’49”E .

Nineteen adult males, five adult females and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37418); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PDPIEZ10, 01 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’29”S 119°08’53”E .

Seventeen adult males, 22 adult females and six copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37419); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC193 , 02 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’38”S 119°07’54”E .

Twenty-two adult males, 48 adult females and six copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37420); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore DW, 02 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’37”S 119°07’49”E .

Three adult males, four adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37421); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC175 , 09 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’39”S 119°07’46”E .

Two adult males and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37422); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PRDC187 , 27 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’13”S 119°08’30”E .

One adult male and one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37423); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC135 , 30 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’40”S 119°07’58”E .

Five adult males and 14 adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37424); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Floyd , bore PDPIEZ11B, 01 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’25”S 119°08’40”E .

Two adult males, five adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37425); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC330 , 28 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’35”S 119°07’50”E .

One adult female dissected on one slide ( WAM C37426); seven adult males, five adult females and seven copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37427); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Alice , bore PRDC232 , 02 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°15’26”S 119°07’13”E .

Three adult males, one adult female and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37428); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Olivia , bore PRDC162 , 03 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°16’20”S 119°05’44”E .

Two adult males, four adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37429); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Clare , bore PRDC150 , 01 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’30”S 119°08’23”E .

One adult male and one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37430); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Clare , bore PRDC340 , 01 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’32”S 119°08’24”E .

Eighteen adult males, 12 adult females and four copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37431); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PRDC095 , 04 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’08”S 119°08’30”E .

One adult male and three adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37432); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PRDC257 , 26 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’10”S 119°08’41”E .

One adult male and one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37433); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Alice , bore PRDC383 , 02 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°15’24”S 119°07’19”E .

Fourteen adult males, 32 adult females and six copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37434); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PRDC189 , 26 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’12”S 119°08’31”E .

Eleven adult males and 8 adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37435); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PRDC187 , 27 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’13”S 119°08’30”E .

Twenty-nine adult males, 53 adult females and 16 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37436); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Clare , bore PRDC339 , 30 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’31”S 119°08’24”E .

Two adult females preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37437); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Glenda , bore PRDC241 , 29 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’34”S 119°07’40”E .

Seven adult males, eight adult females and seven copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37438); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC175 , 29 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’39”S 119°07’46”E .

Fourteen adult males, 34 adult females and eight copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37439); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Clare , bore PRDC340 , 01 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’32”S 119°08’24”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37440); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Alice , bore PRDC232 , 02 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°15’26”S 119°07’13”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37441); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, Bobby , bore PRDC193 , 02 May 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°14’38”S 119°07’54”E .

One adult male, five adult females and five copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37442); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Atlas Iron Mine, South Limb , bore PRDC203 , 26 April 2007, leg. C. Foord & G. Benisson, 20°20’10”S 119°08’38”E .

One adult male and one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37443); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Quarry 8, bore EXR1622, 23 August 2008, leg. S. Eberhard (sample seLN5211), 22°06’06”S 119°00’10”E .

One adult female dissected on one slide ( WAM C37444); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Quarry 8, bore EXR1619, 02 April 2008, leg. S. Eberhard (sample seLN2345), 22°06’11”S 119°00’14”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37445); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Quarry 8, bore EXR1608, 03 April 2008, leg. S. Eberhard (sample seLN2347), 22°05’55”S 118°59’48”E .

Two adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37446); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Yarrie, Salt Bore , 27 April 2008, leg. S. Eberhard (sample seLN2281), 20°36’53”S 120°24’24”E .

One adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37447); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region (border with Great Sandy Desert), Telfer Gold Mine, bore 54/5.2, date unknown, leg. P. Horwitz, 21°43’41”S 122°12’21”E .

Three adult males and two adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37448); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla, Airstrip Bore , samples FBN108 and FBN129, 06 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°50’15”S 117°54’10”E .

Eight adult males, 19 adult females and five copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37449); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWP011, sample FBN118, 05 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’27”S 117°40’42”E .

Eight adult males, six adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37450); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75 DWPC4 , sample FBN124, 04 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’38”S 117°40’26”E .

Eleven adult males, 36 adult females and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37451); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 75DWP001, sample FBN126, 05 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’24”S 117°44’01”E .

Three adult males and 13 copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37452); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore 76DWP007, sample FBN127, 05 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°46’46”S 117°43’28”E .

One adult male and one adult female preserved in 70% ethanol ( WAM C37453); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Balla Balla , bore BBMB008 , sample FBN131, 05 August 2008, leg. V. Campagna, 20°45’20”S 117°46’43”E .

Two adult males, six adult females and five copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, De Grey Station , bore GNHSLK1696, 12 June 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°18’59”S 119°25’35”E .

Twelve adult males, eight adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Carlindi Creek , bore MBSLK388 A, 13 June 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°40’48”S 119°14’43”E .

Three adult females preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, West Strelley , bore MBSLK400 A, 13 June 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°36’10”S 119°07’24”E .

One adult male and one adult female dissected on one slide; six adult males and five adult females preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, West Strelley , bore MBSLK400 B, 13 June 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°36’10”S 119°07’24”E .

Four adult males, two adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Petermarer Creek , bore GNHSLK1631B, 15 November 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°23’38”S 118°48’01”E .

One adult female dissected on one slide; two adult males, 10 adult females and one copepodid preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, Carlindi Creek , bore MBSLK388 A, 15 November 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°40’48”S 119°14’43”E .

Four adult males, three adult females and three copepodids preserved in 70% ethanol (DEC voucher collection); Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara region, West Strelley , bore MBSLK400 B, 15 November 2003, leg. M. Scanlon & J. Cocking, 20°36’10”S 119°07’24”E .

Variability. The most common form of variability in this species, besides small variations in size, is the armature of the endopodal lobe of the female fifth leg. In most specimens it is armed with three spines (although the size of the outermost spine varies), but in some it only carries two spines and sometimes even two spines on one leg and three spines on the opposite appendage. Although variability in characters that are used for the specific name tends to be taken with more caution than any other form, it is probably no more significant than variations in body size or ornamentation patterns. It is interesting to note that the somite ornamentation hardly varies in this species. For example, one male from Atlas Iron Mine has somewhat smaller spinules in the median rows on the preanal and anal somites ( Fig. 17C ) than those in the allotype, although everything else is exactly the same, including the lateral ornamentation ( Fig. 17D ), number of spines on the anal operculum ( Fig. 17B ) and large dorsal cuticular windows on the second and third pedigerous somites ( Fig. 17A ).

However, in a population from Balla Balla, some specimens were observed with circular lateral cuticular windows on the third and fourth pedigerous somites, in addition to large dorsal windows on the second and third pedigerous somites. In some other bores, zero, a few or all female and male specimens have these lateral windows, but they all clearly have visible dorsal windows. Thus one has to reject the thickness of the cuticulum as a possible explanation for not observing lateral windows in all specimens.

Remarks. Megastygonitocrella trispinosa ( Karanovic, 2006) comb. nov. was described as Stygonitocrella trispinosa from only four different subterranean localities in the Pilbara region ( Karanovic 2006), spanning from De Gray River in the north to Fortescue River in the south. However, after the publication of this monograph, stygofauna collecting in the Pilbara region (and other parts of Western Australia) by the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and also by many different private environmental consulting agencies doing impact assessment or monitoring studies, mainly for the mining industry, has continued. The senior author was entrusted with the identification of most of the newly collected copepod material and this species turned out to be one of the most common harpacticoids in this region. Here we present new records of this species from an additional 102 samples, taken from over 70 different localities, which make it the most frequent representative of its genus in Australia and the most frequent member of Stygnitocrella s. l. However, its known distribution was not enlarged significantly and the northwesternmost locality (Telfer Gold Mine) is just on the border of the Pilbara region and the Great Sandy Dessert.

All other Australian members of the genus Megastygonitocrella gen. nov. are short range endemics and are usually collected in very small numbers. In one of the bores M. trispinosa was found together with the relatively closely related M. ecowisei sp. nov. (see above), the former being represented by 20 specimens collected on two occasions (01 May and 10 December 2007), while the latter species had only five, representing the only five ever collected.

While two spines on the endopodal lobe of the female fifth leg, now recognized as variability in some specimens of M. trispinosa (see above), is a characteristic of two other Australian species, M. bispinosa ( Karanovic, 2006) comb. nov. and M. ecowisei sp. nov., these three species differ in many other details, including the presence or absence of dorsal cuticular windows on the prosomites, ornamentation of the urosomites, relative length of the first endopodal segment of the first swimming leg, armature of the fourth leg exopod, as well as the shape and size of the transformed spine on the first leg basis in the male. As we explained in the Remarks section for M. ecowisei , even the nature of the two fifth leg endopodal spines is different between M. trispinosa , M. ecowisei and M. bispinosa .

Figures

FIGURE 17. Megastygonitocrella trispinosa (Karanovic, 2006) comb. nov., male (WAM C37354; 0.445 mm): A— cephalothorax and first free prosomite, lateral view; B—last three urosomites and caudal rami, dorsal view; C—last three urosomites and caudal rami, ventral view; D—abdomen, lateral view. Scale = 0.1 mm.