M. Elias-gutierrez et Nn. Smirnov, Macrothrix marthae, a new species (Crustacea : Anomopoda : Macrothricidae), a highly specialized macrothricid from Mexico, P BIOL SOC, 113(3), 2000, pp. 652-660
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Biology
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Macrothrix marthae new species is described from a tropical epi-contental l
agoon, near the gulf coast of Mexico. The structure of the second antenna r
esembles some taxa related to the Macrothrix triserialis-group, but mostly
to the South-American Macrothrix superaculeata (Smirnov, 1982). However, pa
rthenogenetic females of M. marthae are characterized by both morphological
differences and strong specialization for scraping in the thoracic limbs I
-V. Some of these distinguishing characters are: internal distal lobe of tr
unk limb I with three strongly pectinate setae, limbs II, III, and V with m
odified setae bearing well-developed pectens. The postabdomen has small spi
nes, with no lobe formation. The new species was found to be associated wit
h water hyacinth roots, and the adaptations observed are thought to be used
to scrape efficiently organic matter from these roots.