Morphological and molecular characterization of three new Parastenocarididae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from caves in Southern Italy

  • Maria Cristina Bruno Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige (TN) http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7860-841X
  • Vezio Cottarelli Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, Tuscia University, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo
  • Federico Marrone Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123, Palermo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4730-0452
  • Rosario Grasso Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Catania University, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1242-4201
  • Erika Stefani Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige (TN) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5114-5387
  • Luca Vecchioni Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123, Palermo http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4325-9728
  • Maria Teresa Spena Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Catania University, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1821-507X
Keywords: crustacean, COI gene, 18S rDNA gene, karstic cave, evaporitic cave, stygofauna

Abstract

We describe three new parastenocaridid: Cottarellicaris sanctiangeli Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov., Stammericaris vincentimariae Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov. and Proserpinicars specincola Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov., collected in the pools of five different caves located in Calabria (Southern Italy). We conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI and ribosomal 18S sequences of C. sanctiangeli sp. nov. and S. vincentimariae sp. nov., and of four more species of Stammericaris and one Proserpinicaris available from literature. Based on the molecular study, the specimens of C. sanctiangeli sp. nov. are clearly separated from the species belonging to the closely-related genus Stammericaris. The morphological and molecular data indicate that the genera belonging to the two subfamilies Parastenocaridinae and Fontinalicaridinae form two monophyletic and distinct clades, thus supporting their status. We also provide insights on the genus Proserpinicaris based on morphological data only; in particular, the most important synapomorphic character of the genus, i.e., the taxonomic value of the hyaline structure inserted on the anterior surface of the male leg 4 basis, is discussed based on the development of the P4 endopod, as observed in the last copepodid stage of some species of this genus. Finally, we widen the biogeographic and ecological knowledge of the three genera.

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Published
2020-07-23
How to Cite
Bruno, M. C., Cottarelli, V., Marrone, F., Grasso, R., Stefani, E., Vecchioni, L., & Spena, M. T. (2020). Morphological and molecular characterization of three new Parastenocarididae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from caves in Southern Italy. European Journal of Taxonomy, (689). https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2020.689
Section
Zoology