NEW AMEIRIDAE FROM W. AUSTRALIAN GROUNDWATER 
49 
Table 2 Species groups within Stygonitocrella showing zoogeographical connection, habitat and number of specimens known 

Species Distribution Habitat Material 
dubia (Chappuis, 1937) North Spain cavernicolous Id 
guadalfensis Rouch, 1985 Andalusia hyporheic 929.466 
karamani (Petkovski, 1959) Macedonia phreatic DOO ISS 
ljovuschkini (Borutzky, 1967) Ukraine cavernicolous Sh LP) Chis 
colchica (Borutzky & Michailova-Neikova, 1970) West Georgia cavernicolous 3 29.446 
petkovskii Pesce, 1985 Lesbos, Greece phreatic i © 
tianschanica (Borutzky, 1972) Kirghiztan phreatic PSII) (oie) 
pseudotianschanica (Stérba, 1973) Afghanistan phreatic 2 ISN, 
djirgalanica (Borutzky, 1978) Kirghiztan phreatic VEL POS 
montana (Noodt, 1965) Argentina phreatic 422.636 
orghidani (Petkovski, 1973) Cuba cavernicolous 499.246 
insularis (Miura, 1962) Ryukyu Islands phreatic 2 Ped 
the distal exopod segment of P2—P4 possesses an inner seta. The 
species is unusual in having a bisetose antennary exopod and 
remarkably reduced fifth legs which consist of a median transverse 
plate retaining only the outer basal setae. Petkovski (1973) points 
out several similarities between S. orghidani and Nitocrella negreai 
such as the large size of the antennules and antennae, the short 
caudal rami and the elongate Pl endopod. He regarded these 
characters as evidence for a distinct lineage within Nitocrella sensu 
lato. Apart from the 1-segmented P4 endopod there is no evidence 
for a relationship with any of the other species currently included in 
Stygonitocrella and in view of its fragmentary description we pro- 
pose to relegate it to species incertae sedis within this genus. 
The only oriental species, S. insularis, was described from the 
Ryukyu archipelago (Miura, 1962a) and shows a number of unique 
characteristics within Stygonitocrella. It is regarded here as the type 
species of a new genus Neonitocrella on account of the bisetose 
antennary exopod, the loss of the P4 endopod (represented by a 
rudimentary knob) and the reduced P5 in both sexes. The Pl 
armature pattern, the reduced antennary exopod and the character- 
istic structure of the male PS exopod suggest a sistergroup relationship 
with /. humphreysi, to which it is also closest zoogeographically. 
Conversely, Nitocrella japonica described from Shikoku Island 
(Japan) (Miura, 19626) also shows a remarkable similarity with /. 
humphreysi in the structure of the antenna (unisetose exopod), 
maxilla (elongate allobasis) and maxilliped (slender basis and claw) 
but exhibits a more primitive leg formula. This suggests that the 
genus /nermipes could have been derived from a N. japonica-like 
ancestor through swimming leg reduction. 
Genus NEONITOCRELLA gen. noy. 
DIAGNOsIS. Ameiridae. Body elongate, cylindrical, and vermi- 
form without distinct surface ornamentation except for ventral 
spinule patterns on abdomen. Cephalothorax and other somites with 
smooth posterior margin. Genital and first abdominal somites appar- 
ently separated. Anal operculum well developed. 
Sexual dimorphism in antennule, P3 endopod, P5, P6, and in 
genital segmentation; unconfirmed for inner basal spine of P1. 
Rostrum fused to cephalothorax, not defined at base. Antennule 8- 
segmented in 2, unknown in d; segment | with seta; aesthetascs on 
segments 4 and possibly 8 in 9, unknown in 6. Antenna with separate 
basis and endopod; exopod well developed segment, with 2 setae. 
Mandible with 2-segmented palp, comprising unarmed basis and 
endopod with 4 setae. Maxillule, maxilla and maxilliped unconfirmed. 
P1 with 3-segmented rami; basis without outer seta; exp-1 not 
elongate, exp-2 without inner seta, exp-3 with 4 elements; endopod 
with formula [1.0.020]. 
P2—P4 with 3-segmented exopods and 1-segmented (P2—P3) or 
rudimentary (P4) endopods. Bases with outer seta. Apical setae of 
exp-3 very long. P3 endopod ¢ with inner distal seta shorter and 
outer distal spine longer than in °. P4 endopod represented by minute 
knob. Armature formula: 

Exopod Endopod 
P2 0.1.022 020 
P3 0.1.022 020 
P4 0.1.122 - 
P5 rudimentary with baseoendopod fused to somite and repres- 
ented only by outer basal seta. Exopod a small segment with 2 setae 
in and | pinnate fused spine plus 2 setae in d. P6 rudimentary, 
forming unarmed median operculum in 2; unconfirmed in d. 
Caudal ramus short, with 7 setae; seta V longest. 
TYPE AND ONLY SPECIES. WNitocrella insularis Miura, 1962 = 
Neonitocrella insularis (Miura, 1962) comb. nov. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The authors would like to thank Dr W.F. 
Humphreys (Western Australian Museum, Australia) for providing us with 
the copepod material. One of us (W.L.) acknowledges financial support from 
the Korea Research Foundation provided for the programme year 1997. 
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