On two new Anostraca species (Branchiopoda) from Turkey: Chirocephalus anatolicus sp. nov. and Chirocephalus cupreus sp. nov.

Abstract

Chirocephalus anatolicus and C. cupreus, two new fairy shrimp species belonging to the "bairdi" and "diaphanus" group , respectively, are described and discussed in detail.These new species were collected in Turkey from temporary pools on the Anatolian plateau. A number of morphological features (related to the first antenna, mandibles, first maxilla, and notopods P6-P8) are also illustrated and discussed in relation to their taxonomic and phylogenetic importance. The same holds for some peculiarities of the filtering and oral apparatus of these crustaceans. RIASSUNTOSi descrivono e discutono in modo approfondito due nuove specie di anostraci del genere Chirocephalus, Chirocephalus anatolicus sp. nov. e C. cupreus sp. nov., appartenenti rispettivamente ai gruppi "bairdi" e "diaphanus" . Le due specie sono state rinvenute in Turchia in alcune pozze temporanee dell'altipiano Anatolico. Vengono anche illustrati e discussi alcuni particolari caratteri morfologici (relativi ad A1, mdd, mx1 e P6-P8) con lo scopo di verificarne l'eventuale valore tassonomico e filogenetico. Si discute anche il significato di alcune particolarità degli apparati filtratore e boccale di questi crostacei.

Chirocephalus sarpedonis sp. nov. (Branchiopoda, Anostraca, Chirocephalidae) from Turkey questions the monophyly of the traditional Chirocephalus species-groups

“…Four species were attributed to the bairdi species-group, the remaining were attributed to the diaphanus species-group or are impossible to be attributed to any of the traditional species-groups (present work). The present work questions the monophyly of the bairdi species-group, thus calling into question also the hypothesis raised by Cottarelli et al (2007Cottarelli et al ( , 2010, who suggested the role of Asiatic Turkey as a possible centre of origin and diversification for the species of the group. Any other hypothesis on the natural history of the genus Chirocephalus should be set aside pending for a revision of the phylogeny of the genus.…”

“…In particular, Brtek (1995) divided Chirocephalus into five speciesgroups based on morphology, namely diaphanus, bairdi, spinicaudatus, Pristicephalus, and sinensis. Among these, the species-groups diaphanus-, bairdi-, and spinicaudatus-have been accepted and widely used in the recent literature (Brancelj & Gorjanc, 1999;Brtek & Cottarelli, 2006;Cottarelli et al, 2007Cottarelli et al, , 2010Ketmaier et al, 2003Ketmaier et al, , 2012. Conversely, the Pristicephalus and sinensis species-groups proved to be quite controversial, as Brtek (1995) stressed.…”

“…Although diagnostic for anostracan genera (Linder, 1941;Brendonck, 1995;Brendonck & Belk, 1997;Rogers, 2002), the gonopod morphology has poor taxonomic value to discriminate Chirocephalus species-groups: in the same species-group, it is often possible to find stout and short vs. thin and slender apophyses (see C. brteki vs. C. murae and C. anatolicus Cottarelli et al, 2007). Chirocephalus sarpedonis sp.…”

“…Moreover, from the 21st century onwards, when systematic studies on Turkish large branchiopods increased, a large number of new Chirocephalus Prévost, 1803 species were described (Mura et al, 2005;Brtek & Cottarelli, 2006;Cottarelli et al, 2007Cottarelli et al, , 2010. The speciose genus Chirocephalus is primarily distributed in the temperate Palaearctic, with its greatest diversity in Eurasia (Belk & Brtek, 1995;Brtek & Thiéry, 1995;Brtek & Mura, 2000) and is well represented in Asiatic Turkey, where ten species belonging to the bairdi and diaphanus speciesgroups as defined by Brtek (1995) are currently known (Mura et al, 2011).…”

Preface: New challenges in anostracan research, a tribute to Graziella Mura

“…In more than four decades of activity, Graziella Mura described six anostracan species (Cottarelli & Mura, 1975Cottarelli et al, 2007Cottarelli et al, , 2010, and produced pioneer works on anostracan taxonomy, ecology and faunistics. In particular, she increased our knowledge on the importance and significance of anostracan egg morphology (e.g.…”