Macrothrix marthae, a new species (Crustacea : Anomopoda : Macrothricidae), a highly specialized macrothricid from Mexico

Citation
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
ISSN journal
0006324X → ACNP
Volume
113
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
652 - 660
Database
ISI
SICI code
0006-324X(20001101)113:3<652:MMANS(>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
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.