Adiantumshastense, a new species of maidenhair fern from California.

A new species of Adiantum is described from California. This species is endemic to northern California and is currently known only from Shasta County. We describe its discovery after first being collected over a century ago and distinguish it from Adiantumjordanii and Adiantumcapillus-veneris. It is evergreen and is sometimes, but not always, associated with limestone. The range of Adiantumshastense Huiet & A.R.Sm., sp. nov., is similar to several other Shasta County endemics that occur in the mesic forests of the Eastern Klamath Range, close to Shasta Lake, on limestone and metasedimentary substrates.

New genus and two new species of the family Ethmolaimidae (Nematoda: Chromadorida), found in two different cold-seep environments

This study describes a new genus Dystomanema gen. nov. with two new species, D. cadizensis sp. nov. and D. brandtae sp. nov. within the family Ethmolaimidae, subfamily Neotonchinae, based on specimens from two low-activity cold-seep environments at distant geographical locations. The new genus was first identified in samples from the Darwin mud volcano (1100 m depth) in the Gulf of Cadiz and later on also found in samples from a low-activity seep in the Larsen B embayment (820m depth) off the eastern Antarctic Peninsula. Until now, the family Ethmolaimidae contained nine genera: Ethmolaimus and Paraethmolaimus in the subfamily Ethmolaiminae, and Comesa, Filitonchoides, Filitonchus, Gomphionchus, Gomphionema, Nannolaimus, and Neothonchus in the subfamily Neotonchinae. The most important family characteristics are: an annulated cuticle bearing transverse rows of dots, cephalic sensilla arrangement of 6+6+4, a spiral amphid, an oesophagus with muscular posterior bulb, paired gonads and males with cup-shaped precloacal supplements. The new genus resembles Comesa and Neotonchus, but is typified by a ventrally displaced oral opening with three very small teeth that are easily overlooked. D. cadizensis gen. nov. sp. nov. is characterized by the 1401-2123 mu m long body; cuticle transversally striated with fine punctation; head conical; low lips; amphid spiralled 3 turns, oral opening ventrally displaced, male with outstretched testes; spicules of equal size; gubernaculum plate-like and ten to twelve conspicuous cup-shaped precloacal supplements with external longitudinal articulated flange. D. brandtae gen. nov. sp. nov. can be distinguished by the 2438-3280 mu m long body; cuticle transversally striated with fine punctuation; head conical; low lips; amphid spiraled 3+ turns; oral opening ventrally displaced; male with anterior testes outstretched and posterior one smaller and reflexed; spicules of equal size; gubernaculum plate-like and twenty conspicuous cup-shaped precloacal supplements with external longitudinal articulated flange. Notes on the ecology and habitat of the new genus are provided in light of its discovery in cold-seep environments.

Canna tandilensis Ciciar. (Cannaceae-Zingiberales), a new species from Argentina.

Canna tandilensis is proposed as a species new to science. Plants grow wild terrestrial, in rocky places exposed to solar radiation forming dense colonies whose individuals of small to medium length, produce reduced inflorescences with large and few yellow to bright orange flowers and narrow and reflexed staminodes. The specific epithet refers to the city of Tandil at the south of Buenos Aires Province where the holotype comes from. It is related to other species having reduced inflorescences, narrow leaves and staminodes, and nectar guides in androecium pieces such as C. lineata. A detailed description of the new species is given, along with a study of the morphological vegetative and floral characters. These characters were compared with those from two other species C. glauca and C. lineata. According to these new evidences two groups of similar species of the genus are suggested. The number of species surveyed until now in Argentina rises to sixteen.

Biodiversity and Biogeography of Chthamalid Barnacles from the North-Eastern Pacific (Crustacea Cirripedia)

The biogeography and ecology of the species of Chthamalus present on the west coast of America are described, using data from 51 localities from Alaska to Panama, together with their zonation on the shore with respect to that of other barnacles. The species present were C. dalli, Pilsbry 1916, C. fissus, Darwin, 1854, C. anisopoma Pilsbry 1916 and four species in the C. panamensis complex. The latter are C. panamensis Pilsbry, 1916, C. hedgecocki, Pitombo & Burton, 2007, C. alani nom. nov. (formerly C. southwardorum Pitombo & Burton, 2007) and C. newmani sp. nov.). These four species were initially separated by enzyme electrophoresis. They could only be partially separated by DNA bar coding but may be separated using morphological characters.

Molecular systematics of Ceramium and Centroceras (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta) from Brazil

Morphological investigations identified 11 Ceramium Roth species, of the 18 previously reported from Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene confirmed the presence of seven of these species. Three other species are reported from Brazil for the first time. Ceramium affine Setchell & Gardner and C. filicula Harvey ex Womersley were previously known only from the Pacific Ocean (Mexico and Australia, respectively). A new species, C. fujianum Barros-Barreto et Maggs sp. nov., is described here. Its general habit is similar to that of C. strictum sensu Harvey from Europe but it has one less periaxial cell than C. strictum; its cortical filament arrangement is closest to C. deslongchampsii Chauvin ex Duby, also from Europe, but whorled tetrasporangia partially covered by cortical cells differ strikingly from the naked protruding tetrasporangia of C. deslongchampsii. Ceramium species in which each periaxial cell cuts off transversely only a single basipetal cell formed a robust clade. The genus Ceramium as represented in Brazil is not monophyletic with respect to Centroceras Kutzing and Corallophila Weber-van Bosse; Ceramium nitens, which has axial cells completely covered by rounded cortical cells formed by acropetal and basipetal filaments, did not group with any Ceramium clade but was weakly allied to a species of Corallophila. All three Brazilian Centroceras sequences were attributed to a single species, C. clavulatum.

The genus Pikea (Dumontiaceae, Rhodophyta) in England and the North Pacific: Comparative morphological, life history, and molecular studies

A Pikea species attributed to Pikea californica Harvey has been established in England since at least 1967. Previously, this species was believed to occur only in Japan and Pacific North America. Comparative morphological studies on field-collected material and cultured isolates from England, California, and Japan and analysis of organellar DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms, detected using labeled organellar DNA as a non-radioactive probe, showed that English Pikea is conspecific with P. californica from California. Both populations consist of dioecious gametophytes with heteromorphic life histories involving crustose tetrasporophytes; 96% of organellar DNA bands were shared between interoceanic samples. A second dioecious species of Pikea, P. pinnata Setchell In Collins, Holden et Setchell, grows sympatrically with P. californica near San Francisco but can be distinguished by softer texture, more regular branching pattern, and elongate cystocarpic axes. Pikea pinnata and P. californica samples shared 49-50% of organellar DNA bands, consistent with their being distinct species. Herbarium specimens of P. robusta Abbott resemble P. pinnata in some morphological features but axes are much wider; P. robusta may represent a further, strictly subtidal species but fertile material is unknown. Pikea thalli from Japan, previously attributed to P. californica and described here as Pikea yoshizakii sp. nov., are monoecious and show a strikingly different type of life history. After fertilization, gonimoblast filaments grow outward through the cortex and form tetrasporangial nemathecia; released tetraspores develop directly into erect thalli. Tetrasporoblastic life histories are characteristic of certain members of the Phyllophoraceae but were previously unknown in the Dumontiaceae. Japanese P. yoshizakii shared 55 and 56% of organellar DNA bands with P. californica and P. pinnata, respectively phylogenetic analysis indicated equally distant relationships to both species. Pikea yoshizakii or a closely similar species with the same life history occurs in southern California and Mexico.

A Silurian armoured aplacophoran and implications for molluscan phylogeny

The Mollusca is one of the most diverse, important and well-studied invertebrate phyla; however, relationships among major molluscan taxa have long been a subject of controversy(1-9). In particular, the position of the shell-less vermiform Aplacophora and its relationship to the better-known Polyplacophora (chitons) have been problematic: Aplacophora has been treated as a paraphyletic or monophyletic group at the base of the Mollusca(3,6,8), proximate to other derived clades such as Cephalopoda(2,3,10), or as sister group to the Polyplacophora, forming the clade Aculifera(1,5,7,11,12). Resolution of this debate is required to allow the evolutionary origins of Mollusca to be reconstructed with confidence. Recent fossil finds(13-16) support the Aculifera hypothesis, demonstrating that the Palaeozoic-era palaeoloricate 'chitons' included taxa combining certain polyplacophoran and aplacophoran characteristics(5). However, fossils combining an unambiguously aplacophoran-like body with chiton-like valves have remained elusive. Here we describe such a fossil, Kulindroplax perissokomos gen. et sp. nov., from the Herefordshire Lagerstatte(17,18) (about 425 million years BP), a Silurian deposit preserving a marine biota(18) in unusual three-dimensional detail. The specimen is reconstructed three-dimensionally through physical-optical tomography(19). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that this and many other palaeoloricate chitons are crown-group aplacophorans.

Coleoptera and microbe biomass in Antarctic Dry Valley paleosols adjacent to the Inland Ice: Implications for Mars

Bulk paleosol samples collected from a Middle to Early Miocene moraine in the New Mountain area of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica, yielded Coleoptera exoskeletons and occasional endoskeletons showing considerable diagenetic effects along with several species of bacteria, all lodged in a dry-frozen but salt-rich horizon at shallow depth to the land surface. The till is at the older end of a chronologic sequence of glacial deposits, thought to have been deposited before the transition from wet-based to cold-based ice (similar to 15 Ma), and hence, entirely weathered in contact with the subaerial atmosphere. It is possible, though not absolutely verifiable, that the skeletons date from this early stage of emplacement having undergone modifications whenever light snowmelt occurred or salt concentrations lowered the freezing temperature to maintain water as liquid. Correlation of the Coleoptera species with cultured bacteria in the sample and the likelihood of co-habitation with Beauveria bassiani found in two adjacent, although younger paleosols, leads to new questions about the antiquity of the Coleoptera and the source of N and glucose from chitinase derived from the insects. The skeletons in the 831 section may date close to the oldest preserved chitin (Oligocene) yet found on Earth. While harsh Martian conditions make it seemingly intolerable for complex, multicellular organisms such as insects to exist in the near-surface and subaerially, life within similar cold, dry paleosol microenvironments (Cryosols) of Antarctica point to life potential for the Red Planet, especially when considering the relatively diverse microbe (bacteria and fungi) population. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Macrofaunal assemblages from mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz

Desde a descoberta em 1999 do primeiro vulcão de lama no Golfo de Cádis, cerca de 40 locais, de profundidade variável entre os 200 e os 3900 m, com diferentes graus de emissão de hidrocarbonetos foram localizados e amostrados dentro do programa IOC-UNESCO “Training Through Research (TTR) “ e mais recentemente dentro do projecto europeu HERMES. Neste estudo investigamos as comunidades da macrofauna dos vulcões de lama do Golfo de Cádis utilizando uma diversidade de equipamento de amostragem quantitativo e não quantitativo. Mais de 14550 esp��cimes foram examinados e incluídos nos diferentes grupos taxonómicos, sendo fornecida uma lista taxonómica detalhada com o menor nível taxonómico possível. A biodiversidade, distribuição dos principais taxa, as esp��cies quimiossintéticas e a biodiversidade regional e substituição de esp��cies são apresentados e discutidos. Dentro da macrofauna, os bivalves (nomeadamente super-familia Thyasiroidea, esp��cies quimisimbióticos e comunidade de bivalves) e os ofiurideos são estudados em pormenor. Os Thyasiroidea colhidos nos vulcões de lama do Golfo de Cádis são revistos. Das sete esp��cies identificadas, apenas uma Thyasira vulcolutre. sp. nov se encontra associada a um ambiente quimiossintético. Esta esp��cie é restrita a locais activos, mas não se verificam padrões de distribuição para as outras esp��cies. Os bivalves quimiosimbióticos amostrados são revistos. Das 10 esp��cies fortemente associadas a ambientes quimiossintéticos duas Solemyidae, Petrasma elarraichensis sp. nov. e Acharax gadirae sp. nov., uma Lucinidae, Lucinoma asapheus sp. nov., e uma Vesicomyidae, Isorropodon megadesmus sp. nov. são descritas e comparadas com similares das respectivas famílias. As comunidades de bivalves foram analisadas em detalhe e do estudo de 759 esp��cimes (49 esp��cies em 21 familias) descreve-se a diversidade e padrões de distribuição. Os Ophiuroidea amostrados nos vulcões de lama e ambientes batiais adjacentes são revistos. Treze esp��cies são incluídas em 4 famílias, Ophiacanthidae, Ophiactidae, Amphiuridae e Ophiuridae e são identificadas, tendo sido descrita uma nova esp��cie Ophiopristis cadiza sp. nov. Rácios isotópicos (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) foram determinados em várias esp��cies no intuito de investigar a ecologia trófica das comunidades bênticas dos vulcões do Golfo de Cádis. Os valores de δ13C para os bivalves Solemyidae, Lucinidae e Thyasiridae estão de acordo com os valores para outros bivalves conhecidos por possuírem simbiontes tiotróficos. Por outro lado os valores de δ13C e δ34S para Bathymodiolus mauritanicus sugerem a ocorrência de metanotrofia. A análise da fauna heterotrófica indica igualmente que as esp��cies habitantes da cratera dos vulcões de lama derivam a sua nutrição de fontes quimiossintéticas. A indicação pela análise isotópica que as bactérias autotróficas contribuem substancialmente para a nutrição dos bivalves hospedeiros, levou-nos a investigar os endossimbiontes e as suas relações filogenéticas relativamente a outros bivalves através da análise comparativa de análises de sequências de 16S ribossomal RNS. Análises moleculares PCR-DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) e clonagem de genes de bacterias 16S rRNA confirmaram a presença de simbiontes oxidantes de enxofre e colocam a possibilidade de uma simbiose dupla para o B. mauritanicus. A diversidade microbiana dentro dos Frenulata foi igualmente estudada recorrendo a métodos moleculares e revelou a não existência de padrão entre esp��cies, vulcões, profundidade e idade do animal sugerindo assim a não procura de simbiontes específicos.

Diversity and biology of polychaeta of Diopatra Genus

Os anelídeos poliquetas são elementos importantes em ambientes estuarinos e costeiros, pela sua elevada biodiversidade e abundância e pelo papel que têm nas cadeias tróficas. Algumas esp��cies são intensivamente exploradas para serem utilizadas como isco na pesca desportiva e profissional, como é o caso de Diopatra neapolitana. Apesar da importância económica, existem poucos estudos sobre a sua biologia e ecologia. No decorrer deste estudo foram identificadas duas outras esp��cies do género Diopatra em Portugal: D. marocensis, inicialmente descrita para a costa de Marrocos e cuja distribuição actual se sabe estender-se a toda a costa Portuguesa e Norte de Espanha e, D. micrura, esp��cie nova para a ciência. O presente estudo tem como objectivos principais estudar a diversidade e reprodução do género Diopatra, bem como a capacidade de regeneração da esp��cie D. neapolitana. Este trabalho aborda a distribuição espacial de D. marocensis ao longo da costa Portuguesa e descreve a esp��cie D. micrura, uma nova esp��cie do género Diopatra Audouin and Milne Edwards, 1833. As três esp��cies coabitam em águas transicionais, onde as esp��cies D. micrura e D. marocensis facilmente se confundem com juvenis de D. neapolitana. Foi realizada uma comparação morfológica e genética entre as três esp��cies. A esp��cie D. neapolitana coexiste em algumas áreas da Ria de Aveiro com a D. marocensis. Apesar destas duas esp��cies apresentarem padrões reprodutivos muito diferentes, Maio a Agosto é o período principal para a reprodução de ambas as esp��cies. D. neapolitana apresenta um desenvolvimento larvar planctónico, e os óocitos presentes na cavidade celómica são esverdeados e apresentam um diâmetro de 40-240 μm (média = 164.39±40.79 μm) e as fêmeas contêm no celoma milhares de óocitos. Contrariamente, a esp��cie D. marocensis reproduz-se por desenvolvimento directo no interior do tubo parental. Os óocitos observados no celoma são amarelos com um diâmetro entre 180 e 740 μm (média = 497.65 ± 31.38 μm) e o seu número varia entre 44 e 624 (276.85 ± 161.54). Por seu turno, o número de ovos observados no interior dos tubos varia entre 75 e 298, com um diâmetro entre 600 e 660 μm, e o número de larvas entre 60 e 194. A proporção machos: fêmeas foi de 1:1 para a população de D. neapolitana e entre 1:2 e 1:4 para a população de D. marocensis, em que as fêmeas dominam a população durante todo o ano. O estudo da capacidade de regeneração da esp��cie D. neapolitana, avaliada a partir de experiências de laboratório, revelou que esta esp��cie é capaz de sobreviver à perda de alguns setígeros. Durante a captura de D. neapolitana para vender como isco são normalmente cortados mais de 20 setígeros e de acordo com os nossos resultados a extremidade posterior que fica no tubo não é capaz de regenerar a extremidade anterior; a esp��cie consegue no entanto recuperar de ataques por predadores.

The Portuguese continental shelf soft-bottom benthic habitats

As comunidades de macrofauna bentónica são ecológica e economicamente relevantes, sendo fonte de diversos bens e serviços. A sua identificação, caracterização e mapeamento são importantes para identificar áreas marinhas protegidas e para uma melhor utilização do ambiente marinho. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo holístico da diversidade e distribuição espacial das comunidades de macrofauna bentónica ao longo da plataforma continental Portuguesa. Cerca de 145 locais posicionados ao longo da plataforma ocidental e setentrional foram amostrados com uma draga Smith-McIntyre de área 0,1 m2, a profundidades que variaram entre os 13 e 195 metros. Os sedimentos foram caracterizados em termos de granulometria, de matéria orgânica e geoquímica. São propostos seis habitats bentónicos principais para a plataforma continental Portuguesa, analisada a relação entre os dados biológicos e ambientais e discutidas questões biogeográficas relacionadas com a distribuição espacial de esp��cies e das comunidades. A distribuição da granulometria e assinatura geoquímica dos sedimentos da plataforma continental revelou-se bastante complexa, refletindo importantes diferenças nas fontes (naturais e antropogénicas), origem fluvial, geomorfologia da plataforma, hidrodinamismo e atividade biológica. Relativamente à macrofauna, entre os mais de 30 mil indivíduos recolhidos, foram identificados cerca de 737 taxa, dos quais quatro são novas esp��cies e aproximadamente 40 correspondem a primeiras ocorrências para a costa Portuguesa. As esp��cies mais frequentes foram a Ampharete finmarchica, Ampelisca sp. e Lumbrineris lusitanica sp. nov. enquanto as mais abundantes foram Mediomastus fragilis, Polygordius appendiculatus e Ampharete finmarchica. A abundância por local de amostragem variou entre 7 e 1.307 esp��cimens e a diversidade alfa atingiu um máximo de 96 taxa. Os sedimentos mais grosseiros apresentaram maior diversidade e abundância comparativamente com os sedimentos envasados. Foram identificados seis habitats bentónicos na plataforma continental Portuguesa: (a) sedimentos grosseiros com Protodorvillea kefersteini, Pisione remota, Angulus pygmaeus e várias esp��cies intersticiais; (b) areias finas hidrodinamicamente expostas e próximas da linha de costa com Magelona johnstoni, Urothoe pulchella e Angulus fabula; (c) comunidade de Abra alba em areia envasadas da plataforma profunda do noroeste; (d) Galathowenia oculata, Lumbrinerides amoureuxi e outros poliquetas escavadores e tubícolas em areais envasadas muito profundas na plataforma sudoeste; (e) Euchone rubrocincta, Nematonereis unicornis e várias esp��cies setentrionais nas areias envasadas da plataforma sul; (f) vasas com Sternaspis scutata, Heteromastus filiformis e Psammogammarus caecus. A granulometria do sedimento (particularmente teor em finos), matéria orgânica, profundidade e hidrodinamismo foram as variáveis ambientais com a maior relação com os padrões de distribuição da macrofauna. As esp��cies cosmopolitas e de latitudes superiores (clima Boreal ou Temperado Frio) dominaram o setor noroeste, sendo substituídas por esp��cies mais quentes na área de transição entre os canhões da Nazaré e S. Vicente, que dominaram por conseguinte a plataforma sul. O presente estudo evidenciou a abundância e diversidade da macrofauna bentónica ao longo da área costeira de Portugal, na qual coexistem faunas das províncias biogeográficas do norte da Europa, bem como subtropicais. Integrado com outro estudos, este poderá ser a base para uma melhor gestão da plataforma continental Portuguesa.

Integration of geochemical and biological modifications in mining areas: waters, sediments and diatoms

The development of mining activities over thousands of years in the region of Aljustrel is nowadays visible as a vast area of ore tailings, slag and host rocks of sulphides mineralization. The generation of acidic waters by the alteration of pyritic minerals - Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) - causes a significant impact on the river system both in the south of the village (Rib ª. Água Forte) and in the north of it (Rib ª. Água Azeda and Barranco do Farrobo), which is reflected in extremely low pH values (< 3) and high concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and sulphates. This study aimed to assess the environmental impacts extent, integrating geochemical (surface waters and stream sediments) and biological (diatoms) parameters. Three groups of sites were defined, based on sediments and water analysis, which integration with diatom data showed the same association of groups: Group 1- impacted, with acidic pH (1.9-5.1), high metal contents (0.4-1975 mg L-1) and Fe-Mg-sulphate waters, being metals more bioavailable in waters in cationic form (Me2+); mineralogically the sediments were characterized by phyllosilicates and sulphates/oxy-hydroxysulphate phases, easily solubilized, retaining a high amount of metals when precipitated; dominant taxon was Pinnularia aljustrelica (a new species); Group 2- slightly impacted, weak acid to neutral pH (5.0-6.8), metal contents not so high (0.2-25 mg L-1) and Fe-Mg-sulphate to Mg-chloride waters; dominant taxa were Brachysira neglectissima and Achnanthidium minutissimum; Group 3- unimpacted, alkaline pH (7.0-8.4), low metal contents (0-7 mg L-1) with Mg-chloride waters. In this group, metals were associated to the primary phases (e.g. sulphides), not so easily available; the existence of high chloride contents explained the presence of typical taxa of brackish/marine (e.g. Entomoneis paludosa) waters. Taxonomical aspects of the diatoms were studied (discovery of a new species: Pinnularia aljustrelica Luis, Almeida et Ector sp. nov.), as well as morphometric (size decrease of diatoms valves, as well as the appearance of deformed valves of Eunotia exigua in Group 1 and A. minutissimum in Group 2) and physiological (effective to assess the effects of metals/acidity in the photosynthetic efficiency through PAM Fluorometry) aspects. A study was carried out in an artificial river system (microcosm) that aimed to mimic Aljustrel’s extreme conditions in controlled laboratory conditions. The chronic effects of Fe, SO42- and acidity in field biofilms, inoculated in the artificial rivers, were evaluated as well as their contribution to the communities’ tolerance to metal toxicity, through acute tests with two metals (Cu and Zn). In general, the effects caused by low pH values and high concentrations of Fe and SO42- were reflected at the community level by the decrease in diversity, the predominance of acidophilic species, the decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and the increase of enzymatic (e.g. catalase, superoxide dismutase) and non-enzymatic activities (e.g. total glutathione and total phytochelatins). However, it was possible to verify that acidity performed a protective effect in the communities, upon Cu and Zn addition. A comparative study between Aljustrel mining area and New Brunswick mining area was carried out, both with similar mining and geological conditions, reflected in similar diatom communities in both mines, but in very different geographic and climatic areas.

A new species of Pseudostomella (Gastrotricha: Macrodasyida: Thaumastodermatidae) from a sandy beach of Kerala, India

During an interstitial faunal survey along the south-west coast of Kerala, India, gastrotrich fauna were found in abundance. Together with species of the genera Xenotrichula, Halichaetonotus and Tetranchyroderma, were present several undescribed thaumastodermatid gastrotrichs belonging to the buccal palp bearing genus Pseudostomella. Adults of the new species are characterized by the following traits: total body length of about 300 μm; cuticular armature made up of medium sized pentancres covering the entire dorsolateral surface; pre-buccal, grasping palps bearing five, large papillae dorsally and 4-6 smaller papillae ventrally; adhesive apparatus made up of six anterior, 22-24 ventrolateral, two dorsolateral and six posterior adhesive tubes; caudal organ pear-shaped; frontal organ spherical. Pseudostomella cheraensis sp. nov. is the fourth taxon of the genus known from India; however, all the previous species reported hitherto from India have tetrancres instead of pentancres.

Two new clam shrimp species (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata) from Kerala, India

Two new clam shrimp species belonging to the genera Eulimnadia Packard, 1874 and Leptestheria Sars 1898 from Kerala, India are described. Spinicaudatan clam shrimp are among the least studied groups in India, with only 30 species reported. Eulimnadia azisi sp. nov. was collected from rain fed, temporary, rocky depressions at Vettilapara, in Western Ghats, Kerala. No males were observed and the population may be hermaphroditic. Leptestheria dumonti sp. nov. was collected from the paddy fields at Parapukara, Kerala. Altogether two species of Leptestheria and nine species of Eulimnadia have been reported from India, and this is the first report of the genus Leptestheria from Kerala.