Paranitocrella, Tang & Knott, 2009

Tang, Danny & Knott, Brenton, 2009, Freshwater cyclopoids and harpacticoids (Crustacea: Copepoda) from the Gnangara Mound region of Western Australia, Zootaxa 2029, pp. 1-70 : 49-50

Paranitocrella gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Ameiridae . Body elongate and cylindrical. Prosomal somites with smooth hyaline frill. Urosome 5-segmented in female, 6-segmented in male. Pre-anal somites with minutely serrated hyaline frill forming rectangular lappets. Genital double-somite with dorsal suture line representing ancestral division between genital somite and first abdominal somite. Anal operculum well developed, furnished with large spinules. Caudal rami short, with 7 setae. Rostrum with truncate tip, defined at base. Female antennule 8-segmented, with tubular pore on segment 1 and aesthetasc on segment 4. Male antennule 10-segmented, haplocerate, with tubular pore on segment 1 and aesthetasc on segment 5. Antenna with separate basis and endopod; exopod 1- segmented, with 1 apical seta. Mandible with 2-segmented palp, representing unarmed basis and endopod, latter with 4 apical setae. Maxillule with 3 setae on coxal endite; basis with 1 subapical and 4 apical setae; endopod minute, with 2 setae; exopod absent. Maxilla with basal pilose seta representing proximal endite and trisetose distal endite on syncoxa; allobasis drawn out into into a claw; endopod 1-segmented, with 2 setae. Maxilliped subchelate; syncoxa with 1 seta; basis unarmed; endopod represented by long claw with 1 accessory setae.

Leg 1 with 3-segmented rami; basis with subapical flagellum on outer spine and sexually dimorphic inner spine; proximal and middle exopodal segments without inner seta; terminal exopodal segment with 4 elements; distal endopodal segment with 3 elements. Legs 2–4 with 3-segmented exopods and 2-segmented endopods. Proximal and middle exopodal segments without inner seta. Terminal exopodal segment with reduced inner apical seta. Proximal endopodal segment unarmed. Leg 2 basis with subapical flagellum on outer spine. Legs 3 and 4 bases with outer seta. Leg 2 endopod sexually dimorphic; fewer spinules on distal segment in male. Leg 3 endopod sexually dimorphic; 1 apical spine on distal segment in female; 2 elements on same segment in male. Terminal exopodal segment of leg 4 with 6 elements.

Leg 5 with separate basoendopod and exopod in both sexes; basoendopods fused medially in male; female with 4 elements on basoendopod and 4 elements on exopod; male with 2 elements on basoendopod and 5 elements on exopod. Female leg 6 vestigial, forming common genital operculum armed with 1 seta on either side. Male leg 6 asymmetrical, forming opercular plate armed with 2 setae.

Type and only species. Paranitocrella bastiani gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of Greek “ para ” (meaning beside or near) and the existing genus name Nitocrella . Gender feminine.