Abstract
Alona willisi (Smirnov, 1989) (Anomopoda: Chydoridae) is a poorly known cladoceran endemic to Australia. The present morphological study revealed numerous unique and rare features of the species and justifies its assignment to Acanthalona gen. nov. The new genus differs by its postabdomen armed with very long, thick marginal denticles and by exopodite of limb V with only three setae. It also differs from most Aloninae by antennal formula (setae 0-0-3/0-1-2, spines 1-0-1/0-0-1), shared only with Bryospilus Frey, 1980. In our opinion, Acanthalona gen. nov. is related to Armatalona Sinev, 2004 and Matralona Van Damme &Dumont, 2009. These three genera form a clade, basal for the subfamily, and not directly related to the majority of Aloninae. The records of A. willisi show that the species inhabits both acidic and alkaline freshwaters and seems to be algivorous as well as detritivorous.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 43-55 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Zootaxa |
| Issue number | 3390 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jul 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acanthalona gen. nov.
- Apomorphies
- Armatalona
- Australian endemism
- Cladocera
- Matralona
- Royal National Park
- Sister groups
- Synapomorphies