A new species of Iberobathynella Schminke, 1973 (Syncarida, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) in the South of the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

A new Iberian species of the genus Iberobathynella is described from a well and a river bank, in the south of Spain (Andalusia). The new species belongs to the subgenus Espanobathynella, comprising 5 species. This subgenus, to date, was known only from North Spain (Asturias, Cantabria and Burgos). The new species presents a unique combination of characters, as follows: antennule with 7 segments; labrum with 8 main teeth; 8 teeth on the pars incisiva and 6-9 teeth on the pars molaris of the mandible; 7 teeth on the distal segment of the maxillule; maxilla with 1, 4 and 15 setae on its three segments, respectively; 7-10 spines on the furca; 7-11 spines on the sympod, 4 barbed setae on the exopod and 2 barbed and 1 plumose setae on the endopod of the uropod, and a pronounced anal operculum. The new species shows three characters which are unique in the subgenus: pronounced anal operculum; 3 setae on the endopod of the uropod, and 8 teeth on the pars incisiva of the mandible.