| Abstract |
Brevisomabathynella gen. nov. is established for two new species, B. cooperi sp. nov. and B.
cunyuensis sp. nov., from Western Australia. An illustrated description of both species is given. The
two species stand out in the family Parabathynellidae by their pygmoid body (the ratio of length to
width: 5) and the relatively long head (equaling the anterior five thoracic segments combined). The
following characters of both new species associated with the mouthparts are also unique within the
Parabathynellidae: (i) the gargantuan labrum with a high number (> 30) of narrow teeth, (ii) the
incisor process with four main and three tiny additional teeth, arranged in two size groups, and (iii)
the two disto-inner spines of the distal endite of the maxillule being longer than the terminal spines.
These unusual characters seem to have developed in response to the predatory habits, which is
evidenced by the presence of an unidentified ostracod prey in the gut of B. cunyuensis. The new
genus, with its primitive characters, closely resembles the genus Notobathynella Schminke, 1973. |
Choat, J.-L., J.-G. Park, and Y. Ranga Reddy (2006) Brevisomabathynella gen. nov. with two new species from Western Australia (Bathynellacea, Syncarida): the first definitive evidence of predation in Parabathynellidae. Zootaxa 1247: 25–42.