Flavalona asymmetrica, Elmoor-Loureiro, Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa Lourdes M. A., 2018

Elmoor-Loureiro, Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa Lourdes M. A., 2018, Populations of Flavalona setigera (Brehm, 1931) in Brazil belong to a new species: Flavalona asymmetrica (Cladocera: Chydoridae: Aloninae), Nauplius (e 2018003) 26, pp. 1-14 : 2-8

Flavalona asymmetrica sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–4)

Alona setigera —Santos-Wisniewski et al., 2001: p. 702, fig. 1; Santos-Wisniewski et al., 2002: p. 604; Rocha et al., 2011: p. 289; Sousa and Elmoor-Loureiro, 2012: p. 356; Sousa and Elmoor-Loureiro, 2013: p. 7; Sousa et al., 2013: p. 226; Sousa et al., 2014: p. 147 [not Flavalona setigera ( Brehm, 1931) ].

Type locality. Inhacica River , Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil (17º50’’11”S 43º45’58”W) .

Material examined. Holotype: Undissected , adult parthenogenetic female in a tube with 92% ethanol deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil under access number MZUSP 35347. The label of holotype is: Flavalona asymmetrica , 1 parthenogenetic ♀ from Inhacica River, Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Brazil . Holotype. Paratypes. 6 parthenogenetic females, Inhacica River , Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil (17º50’11”S 43º45’58”W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll., 14/ IX/2010 ( FDRS0508 ) ; 2 parthenogenetic females, Jequitaí River , Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil (17°54’8.64”S 43°45’40.28”W), Adriana Marinho Fernandes coll., 03/V/2010 ( EL0186 ) ; 3 parthenogenetic females, Jequitaí River , Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil (17°54’8.64”S 43°45’40.28”W), Adriana Marinho Fernandes coll., 03/V/2010 ( FDRS0507 ) ; 4 parthenogenetic females, Preto River , Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil (17°55’54.01”S 43°48’50.33”W), Adriana Marinho Fernandes coll., 02/V/2010 ( EL01850 ) ; 2 parthenogenetic females, Exército Pond , Parque Nacional de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°44’44.30”S 47°58’49.10”W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll., 1/IV/2008 ( EL01724 ) ; 2 parthenogenetic females, Exército Pond , Parque Nacional de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°44’44.30”S 47°58’49.10”W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll., 16/VIII/2009 ( FDRS0471 ) . 1 parthenogenetic female, Peito de Moça wetland, Parque Nacional de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°45’5.8”S 48°01’33.2” W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll., 17/VIII/2009 ( FDRS473 ) ; 7 parthenogenetic females, Peito de Moça wetland, Parque Nacional de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°45’5.8”S 48°01’33.2”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/IV/2009 ( EL01727 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic female. Henrique Pond , Parque Nacional de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°41’18”S 47°56’26.10”W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll.,?/ VIII/2009 ( FDRS0474 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic female, Murunduns Wetlands , Parque Nacional de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°46’ 42”S 47°58’34”W), material collected by Grupo de Estudos de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, 17/VII/2009 ( EL01684 ) ; 4 parthenogenetic females, Cedro Pond , Park Way, Distrito Federal, Brazil (15°53’50.2”S 47°56’37.7”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 21/III/2008 ( EL01637 ) ; 2 parthenogenetic females, Rio dos Couros, Alto Paraíso , Goiás, Brazil (14°09’36.5”S 47°35’37.6”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 10/VII/2004 ( EL02439 ) ; 10 parthenogenetic females, pond, Alto Paraíso , Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros , Goiás, Brazil (14°6’5.84”S 47°42’4.89”W), Luciana Mendonça de Galvão, Bárbara M. Fonseca, and Ricardo L. Pinto colls., 17/VI/2012 ( EL02241 ) ; 7 parthenogenetic females and 1 male, pond, Alto Paraíso , Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros , Goiás, Brazil (14°6’8.57”S 47°42’7.35”W), Luciana Mendonça de Galvão, Bárbara M. Fonseca and Ricardo L. Pinto colls., 17/VI/2012 ( EL02265 ) ; 3 parthenogenetic females, pond, Alto Paraíso , Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil (14°6’8.37”S 47°42’12.32”W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll., 12/III/2013 ( EL02541 ) ; 21 parthenogenetic females and 4 males, pond, Alto Paraíso , Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros , Goiás, Brazil (14°6’8.37”S 47°42’12.32”W), Luciana Mendonça de Galvão, Bárbara M. Fonseca and Ricardo L. Pinto colls., 17/VI/2012 ( EL02269 ) ; 2 parthenogenetic females, Estiva Stream , Alto Paraíso , Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil (14°06’40.3”S 47°44’02.2”W), Francisco Diogo Rocha Sousa coll., 13/III/2013 ( EL02376 ) ; 3 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/XI/2002 ( EL0754 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/ XI/2002 ( EL01361 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/XI/2002 ( EL01362 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/ XI/2002 ( EL01363 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/XI/2002 ( EL01364 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/ XI/2002 ( EL01365 ) ; 1 parthenogenetic females, Pico Itapeva Dam , Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (22°46’25.2”S 45°33’24.1”W), Lourdes Maria Abdu Elmoor-Loureiro coll., 15/XI/2002 ( EL01366 ) .

Etymology. The epithet comes from joining the Greek prefix “ a ” (absence) and Latin word “ symmetria ” (symmetry). The name makes reference to the rim around the posterior pore, which is broader than the connection around the anterior one.

Differential diagnosis. Flavalona asymmetrica sp. nov. has two main head pores, differently from Flavalona costata ( Sars, 1862) , Flavalona cheni (Sinev, 1999) , Flavalona natalensis ( Sinev, 2008) , F. margipluma , Flavalona weltneri (Kilhack, 1905) , Flavalona rustica (Scott, 1895) , Flavalona bicolor (Frey, 1965) , F. hudeci , F. iheringula and Flavalona sphagnophila ( Van Damme & Eggermont, 2011) . Regarding the females, F. asymmetrica sp. nov. is differentiated from F. setigera because it has the rim around the posterior pore broader than anterior one, PP about 0.7 IP, deep and elliptic sacs about 0.6 of length of the lateral pores; long seta 1 of IDL on the first limb; second limb with scrapers 7–8 armed with denticles; third limb with first exopodite seta about 0.7 of length of the second seta; fourth limb with exopodite setae 4–5 of similar lengths; epipodite of the fifth limb with long projection; sixth limb about 2.4 times longer than wide with setulae on the margins; postabdomen armed with up to nine marginal denticles. Regarding the males, F.asymmetrica sp. nov. is differentiated from F. setigera because it has seta of the copulatory brush markedly shorter than setae 2–3 of IDL, postabdomen armed with marginal setulae on the distal and anal margins not separated in groups, basal spine present and genital process about ten times shorter than length of postabdominal claw.

Description of parthenogenetic female. General Habitus ( Fig. 1A–C). Body more elongate than spherical, length 0.37–0.45 mm, maximum height at middle of body, height/length ratio about 0.6; dorsal margin arched, without dorsal keel or lateral projection; in dorsal and ventral view body not laterally compressed.

Carapace ( Fig. 1A–F). With slight longitudinal lines; ventral margin almost straight; each valve with 49–52 plumose setae and relatively long setulae between them; setae arranged in three groups, anterior and posterior groups longer than median group; internal spinulae of the posterior part not arranged in groups, proximal spinulae exceeding the line of valves.

Cephalic structures ( Fig. 1G–N). Ocellus shorter than eye; rostrum short and not sharp in lateral view. Head shield ( Fig. 1G–J). About 1.6 times longer than wide, posterior part (posterior to mandibular articulations) about 0.52 of length of the anterior part, posterior margin strongly arched; rostrum short with margin rounded; two connected main head pores, rim around the posterior pore about 1.3 times broader than the anterior one; PP about 0.7 IP; transverse lateral head pores about 0.7–0.9 IP and located at the level of posterior main head pore or between posterior and anterior main head pores, deep and elliptic sacs underneath about 0.6 of length of the lateral pores. Labrum ( Fig. 1K). Of moderate size; keel without a notch, anterior margin convex, posterior margin with two clusters of setulae. Maxilla ( Fig. 1L). Well developed, with two long setulated setae. Antennule – A1 ( Fig. 1M). Antennular body length about 2.2 times the width, does not exceeding tip of rostrum, with three rows of setulae; antennular sensory seta slender, about three times shorter than antennular body, inserted at the second third of the antennular body; nine aesthetascs projecting beyond the tip of rostrum, two aesthetascs about 1.4 times longer than the others. Antenna – A2 ( Fig. 1N). Coxal setae of similar length; basal segment thick with a short spine; first exopodite segment slightly longer than first segment of endopodite; second exopodite segment armed with long setulae on the tip and a seta about 0.45 of the length of longest apical seta;first endopodite segment armed with a spine slightly shorter than second segment; apical spines longer than length of apical segments. Antennal formula (exo/endo): spines 001/101, setae 113/003.

Thoracic limbs ( Fig. 2A–K). Six pairs of thoracic limbs. First limb ( Figs. 2A, B). Epipodite with long projection; ODL bears a thin seta armed with fine setulae, similar in length to IDL setae; IDL (en 4) with three setae, first seta about 3.5 times shorter than setae 2–3, setae 2–3 bisegmented and armed with hard setulae; endite 3 with four setae, seta 1 markedly shorter than posterior setae (a–c), setae (a–b) of similar length and slightly longer than seta (c); endite 2 with a row of long spinulae, three posterior setae present (d–f), setae (d–e) of similar length and about 0.8 of the length of seta (f), setae (e–f) bearing spinulae on the lateral face, anterior stiff seta short, about 0.16 of setae (d–e); endite 1 with three posterior setae (g–i), two being bisegmented and densely setulated from to distal part (g–h), a short flat plumose seta (i), anterior stiff seta about 0.24 of setae (d–e); ejector hooks of different length and armed with short spines; ventral face of the limb with seven groups of setulae organized in clusters, decreasing in length towards the distal portion; gnathobase elongated, apex sharp and setulated. Second limb ( Fig. 2C, D). Exopodite elongated with a row of short setulae, seta on the exopodite about 0.57 of length of exopodite itself; inner limb portion armed with eight scrapers; scrapers 1–2 of similar length and armed with fine and short spinulae, scrapers 3–8 decreasing in length towards to gnathobase; scraper 3 armed with spines; scraper 7 armed with strong denticles, about 1.4 times shorter than scraper 6; scraper 8 armed with strong denticles, about 1.8 shorter than scraper 6; proximal portion of gnathobase wide and short, armed with short setulae; distal portion armed with four elements, first as a short sensillum, second and third elements with blunt distal portion, fourth element short and obtuse; filter comb with seven setae, first one short and densely setulated, others long and slightly setulated. Third limb ( Fig. 2E, F). Epipodite elongated, without projection; exopodite relatively large, subquadrangular, with five distal and two lateral setae; sixth and seventh setae setulated, short and of similar length; fifth seta about 1.8 times longer than first seta and 1.4 times longer than second seta; fourth seta slightly longer than third seta; First seta about 0.7 of length of the second, both naked; distal endite with three setae (1–3), seta (1–2) scraper-like, seta (3) curved and armed with many setulae bilaterally implanted; four long and plumose posterior setae increasing in length toward to posterior part of the endite (a–d); basal endite with four soft anterior setae slightly increasing in length towards the gnathobase (4–7); gnathobase armed with three elements, the first being a cylindrical sensillum, the second a geniculated and relatively short seta, third and fourth elements naked and with acute tip; filter comb with seven setae. Fourth limb ( Fig.2G–I). Pre-epipodite rectangular, densely setulated; epipodite oval with a long projection; exopodite subquadrangular with six marginal setae; setae 3–6 plumose; sixth seta about two times longer than the third and slightly longer than fourth and fifth setae; third seta about 0.53 of length of the fourth and fifth setae and about 0.7 of length of the second seta; first seta markedly shorter than second seta; distal endite with four setae (1–4), one scraper-like (1), three flaming-torch-like (3–4); first flaming-torch ticker than the others and armed with long setulae; gnathobase armed with a bottle-shaped sensillum and a setulated seta shorter than width of endite; filter comb with five setae. Fifth limb ( Fig. 2J). Pre-epipodite short and rounded, densely setulated; epipodite oval with long projection; exopodite clearly divided in two lobes; four plumose setae; third seta about 0.9 of length of the fourth seta; second seta about 0.75 of length of the fourth seta; first seta about 0.46 of length of the second seta; internal lobe elongated, relatively oval and armed with many setulae, two setulated setae of different length on inner face of the lobe, seta 1 about 0.9 of length of the seta 2;gnathobase armed with two elements; filter comb with three setae about two times shorter than seta 1 of internal lobe. Sixth limb ( Fig. 2K). An elongated lobe, about 2.4 times longer than wide; apical and lateral margins armed with long setulae.