Giuseppe L. Pesce

Copepods From Ground Waters of Western Australia. Iii. Diacyclops Humphreysi N. Sp., and Comments On the Diacyclops Crassicaudis-Complex (Copepoda, Cyclopidae)

Diacyclops humphreysi n. sp. is described from the Cape Range karst area, North-west Cape Peninsula, Western Australia. The new species fits the Diacyclops crassicaudis-complex (Reid, 1992), being close to D. longifurcus Shen & Sung, 1963, from China and D. alticola Kiefer, 1935, from India. The Diacyclops crassicaudis-complex is for the first time recorded in Australia.

Parastenocaris lorenzae n.sp., and first record of Parastenocaris glacialis Noodt (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Italy

Parastenocaris lorenzae n.sp. is described from rhithrostygal of the Sangro river (Abruzzo, Central Italy). Parastenocaris glacialis Noodt, 1952 is for the first time recorded from Italy. The presence of borealpine elements in ground waters of Central Apennines is briefly discussed.

New or rare species of Diacyclops Kiefer, 1927 (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) from different groundwater habitats in Italy

Diacyclops paralanguidoides sp.n., Diacyclops paolae sp.n., Diacyclops maggii sp.n. and Diacyclops sardous sp.n., all belonging to the ‘languidoides-group’ of species, are described from groundwaters (wells, hyporheic habitats) in Italy.New localities are reported, from the same country, for other remarkable species of the genus, viz. Diacyclops clandestinus (Kiefer) and Diacyclops zschokkei (Graeter).The absence of a vestigial exopod and the armature of the basipodite of the antenna are considered as useful diagnostic characters for species demarcations.

The genus Elaphoidella Chappuis (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) in Italy, including the description of five new species∗

Elaphoidella aprutina n.sp., Elaphoidella italica n.sp., Elaphoidella paraelaphoides n.sp., Elaphoidella rossellae n.sp. and Elaphoidella subplutonis n.sp. are described from phreatic groundwaters of central Italy. New localities are reported for the species Elaphoidella elaphoides (Chappuis) and Elaphoidella phreatica (Chappuis) from central and southern Italy. The distribution of the genus Elaphoidella in Italy is briefly discussed.

Higginsia ciccaresei sp. nov. (Porifera : Demospongiae) from a marine cave on the Apulian coast (Mediterranean sea)

A new species of sponge: Higginsia ciccaresei sp. nov. (Demospongiae: Desmoxyidae) is described from a marine cave of the Ionian Apulian coast (Mediterranean Sea). It lives in complete darkness, 250 m from the cave entrance, in a basin of anchialine waters of low salinity and relatively cool temperature. The spicule formation process seems to be affected by some of the peculiar characteristics of the ambient water, resulting in spicules of unusual shape and irregular surface. This is the second record of the genus Higginsia – which has a world-wide distribution – from the Mediterranean Sea. The hypothesis that H. ciccaresei could be considered as a tethyan relic which survived in the peculiar habitat of an anchialine cave is also suggested.

Some harpacticoids from subterranean waters of Greece (Crustacea: Copepoda)

Abstract Elaphoidella moreae n. sp., Parapseudoleptomesochra hellenica n. sp. and Nitocrella achaiae n. sp. are described from phreatic subterranean waters of Greece. Moreover, new localities are reported for the species Elaphoidella karamani Chappuis, Elaphoidella elaphoides (Chappuis), Attheyella (Brehmiella) dentata (Poggenpol), Attheyella (Attheyella) crassa (Sars), Nitocrella skirensis Pesce, Nitocra spinipes Boeck, Bryocamptus (Bryocamptus) minutus (Claus), and Canthocamptus staphylinus (Jurine). The systematic status of the species Elaphoidella karamani, Elaphoidella eucharis Chappuis, and Elaphoidella elaphoides is briefly discussed.

Microparasellids From Phreatic Waters of Greece ( Isopoda, Asellota)

[Le conoscenze sui Microparasellidi di Grecia erano sinora limitate al solo genere Microcharon Karaman: M. latus (Isola di Lefkas), M. slygius hellenae (Attica) e M. sp. (Isola di Eubea). Oltre a dare indicazioni su altre localita di M. latus latus (Isola di Cefalonia), viene resa nota la presenza di M. latus prespensis (Epiro e Peloponneso) e di Microparasellus puteanus (Isola di Cefalonia, Epiro, Attica). Vengono, inoltre, descritte e discusse due nuove specie: Microparasellus hellenicus n. sp. (Epiro, Etolia e Peloponneso) e Microcharon otbrys n. sp. (Tessaglia e Attica)., Le conoscenze sui Microparasellidi di Grecia erano sinora limitate al solo genere Microcharon Karaman: M. latus (Isola di Lefkas), M. slygius hellenae (Attica) e M. sp. (Isola di Eubea). Oltre a dare indicazioni su altre localita di M. latus latus (Isola di Cefalonia), viene resa nota la presenza di M. latus prespensis (Epiro e Peloponneso) e di Microparasellus puteanus (Isola di Cefalonia, Epiro, Attica). Vengono, inoltre, descritte e discusse due nuove specie: Microparasellus hellenicus n. sp. (Epiro, Etolia e Peloponneso) e Microcharon otbrys n. sp. (Tessaglia e Attica).]

Some remarks on the genus Microcharon Karaman in Greece, and description of M. agripensis n. sp. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Microparasellidae)

Several samples of microparasellid isopods of the genus Microcharon Karaman were obtained in groundwater habitats of Greece. Four species are identified, and taxonomical and zoogeographical remarks on some rare or poorly known taxa are made. One species, herein described as Microcharon agripensis n. sp., is new to Science. M. latus prespensis Karaman, 1954, on account of the different morphology of the first and second male pleopods, and its partially overlapping distribution, in respect to M. latus Karaman, 1934, is definitively raised at specific rank. Supplementary descriptions and illustrations are reported for incompletely described species such as M. latus, M. prespensis stat. nov., M. major Karaman, 1954and M. othrys Argano & Pesce, 1979. For some species, such as M. latus, M. othrys and M. antonellae Galassi, 1991,SEM preparations of the mouthparts, not well detailed with the optical microscopy, were carried out. Accord. ing to data from the present study, a paleogeographical scenario of the Balkan Peninsula is briefly depicted in order to sketch the most significative events which led to the colonization and speciation of the Microcharon species in this area.

Metacyclops Geltrudeae N. Sp., a New Cyclopid From Ground Waters of Venezuela (Copepoda, Cyclopidae)

Metacyclops geltrudeae n.sp. is described from ground waters of North Venezuela. The new species fits the gracilis group of Metacyclops sensu Lindberg (1961), being close to Metacyclops dentatus (Plesa, 1981) from Cuba.

Un Harpacticoéde Nouveau Des Eaux Souterraines Phréatiques De L'Italie: Schizopera Lindae N. Sp. (Copepoda, Diosaccidae)*)

A new harpacticoid copepod from phreatic groundwater of south Italy (Basilicata), viz. Schizopera lindae n. sp., is described. According to a recent review of the genus Schizopera by Apostolov (1982), the new species belongs to Schizopera s. str., being close to S. paradoxa (Daday) and to S. longicauda (Sars). From the above species, as well as from the others, S. lindae n. sp. is easily distinguishable by the armature of legs 1 to 4, and by the construction and armature of leg 5.