Branchinellites hardingi ( Qadri and Baqai 1956 )

Rogers, D. Christopher, 2006, A genus level revision of the Thamnocephalidae (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca), Zootaxa 1260, pp. 1-25 : 17-19

Branchinellites hardingi ( Qadri and Baqai 1956)

Diagnosis ( Figure 2 ). Male: Head rounded and smooth. First antennae three times longer than eye plus stalk.

Cephalic appendage extending 50% or less the length of the thorax. Ventral surface smooth, without obvious spines. Trunk divided into two “pseudosegments” between base and terminal branches. Proximal section (i.e. from base to first point of articulation) subcylindrical, sub­equal in length to proximal antennomere of second antennae. Distal section shorter than proximal section by at least one third. Apex bifurcated into two branches, each sub­equal in length to the trunk. Each branch with medial ramus, smooth, cylindrical, subequal in length to apical section of trunk, apex truncated. Main branch beyond medial ramus roughly twice as long as medial ramus, soft, fleshy, and pseudosegmented. Apex divided into two short, unequal fleshy projections, with the lateral projection slightly longer than the medial projection, and pseudosegmented.

Second antenna proximal antennomere smooth, sub­cylindrical, twice as long as broad. Proximal antennomere bearing a single sublamellar, distal antennal appendage on anteriomedial surface. Appendage shorter in length to second antennal proximal antennomere by one third at least, smooth, soft, ventrally directed, tapering to a sub­acute apex.

Distal antennomere roughly 0.25 to 0.33 times longer than proximal antennomere, smooth, arcuate, directed medially, with a truncated and slightly explanate apex.

Labrum smooth, convex. Lateral lobes rounded, subtriangular. Distal lobe elongated into spine. Mandibles rounded, molar surface covered in fine denticles. Maxilla I subconical, low and mound like. Maxilla II long, with transverse row of approximately 20 long plumose, aciculate setae, as long as maxilla II. Maxillary gland large, soft, with the ventral lobe directed posteriorly.

Preepipodites lamellar, extremely large, twice as broad as long, with slightly crenulate margin. Epipodites small, elongate, four to six times as long as broad. Exopodites ovate, curving laterally, with margins smooth.

Endopodites broad, lamellar, subquadrate. Ventrolateral margin with short fine setae, separated by short spines. Apex with short spines only. Medial margin reflexed posteriorly with long stout setae. Reflexed margin with anteriomedial surface lined with short, stout spines, twice as long as broad, and curving medially.

Genitalia as for genus. Everted penes with sparsely scattered spines.

Cercopods flattened laterally at base, margined with long stout, plumose spines.

Female. Head rounded and smooth. First antennae twice as long as second antennae. Second antennae twice as long as eye plus stalk, lamellar, tapering to an acute apex.

Thorax smooth, thoracopods as in male.

Brood pouch sub­globular proximally, tapering distally, and extending to base of second abdominal segment. Gonopore slightly produced ventrally. Ovaries not visible in the specimen at hand.

Cercopods as in male.

Type locality. Pakistan, Karachi District, temporary pools 16 km from Karachi, near the Malir Police Station.

Types. No types were designated by Qadri and Baqai (1956). However, the material in my possession was determined as this taxon by Baqai, who referred to them in his letter to Moore as “from the original collection used for there (sic) description”. I am assuming that they represented syntype material. Therefore, I am depositing new type material at the United States National Museum; designating one male as lectotype ( USNM 1077034) and the female as paralectotype ( USNM 1077035).

Distribution. Reported from the type locality in Pakistan ( Qadri & Baqai 1956) and from India, Chhatarpur District, Madhaya Praedesh ( Tiwari 1971).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Branchinella (Branchinellites) hardingi. A) Male, head, anterior view of left side; B) female, head, anterior view of left side; C) female brood pouch, right lateral view; D) male genitalia, ventral view (penes retracted); E) male fifth left thoracopod, anterior view. Scale bar: A and B = 0.8 mm; C and D = 1.0 mm; D = 0.5 mm.