Redescription of Macrothrix tripectinata Weisig, 1934 (Anomopoda, Branchiopoda), with a discussion of some features rarely used in the systematics ofthe genus

The rare Macrothrix tripectinata Weisig, 1934 is redescribed on material fr om the East Pamirs (Tajikistan) and Tuva (Russia). Adult and juvenile parth enogenetic females and adult males were studied using optical microscopy an d SEM. The thoracic appendages and the molar surface of mandibles were inve stigated in detail. Selected 'conventional' diagnostic features are critica lly reviewed. The importance of characters, rarely used in the systematics of Macrothrix, such as: type of valve reticulation, similarity or dissimila rity in size of the terminal esthetascs of the antennules of females and ma les, presence of an abdominal projection and reticulation on the postabdome n, presence, length and armature of a male seta on the antennule, are discu ssed. A key for the Eurasian species of Macrothrix is proposed.