A new genus and species of entocytherid ostracod (Ostracoda: Entocytheridae) from the John Day River Basin of Oregon, U. S. A., with a key to genera of the subfamily Entocytherinae
Author
Weaver, Patricia G.
Author
Williams, Bronwyn W.
text
Zootaxa
2017
4273
4
576
586
journal article
32887
10.11646/zootaxa.4273.4.7
69ea9bc8-9500-498e-bc64-cdfc023f82ba
1175-5326
803808
29AE1FBC-1E22-4A3B-B70F-97F0DB1B65D7
Aurumcythere
Weaver & Williams
,
gen. nov.
Type species.
Aurumcythere tillmani
Weaver & Williams
,
sp. nov.
Diagnosis.
Carapace subovate to semi-elliptical with eyespot located near anterodorsal margin. Adults with well-developed respiratory plate and masticatory lobes; mandible with six teeth, terminal tooth larger than preceding teeth; antennule consisting of six podomeres; antennae consisting of four podomeres, flexor surface of dorsal apical antennal claw of male setiferous, antennal claws of adult female not conspicuously triunguis, ventral claw without pectinate prominences at base. Legs with short, hook-like terminal claws. Peniferum of adult male short, not extending beyond midpoint of clasping apparatus, without accessory groove or finger guard, distal end of peniferum blunt, with posteroventral hook and spur-like prominences, both curving in an anteroventral direction; spur originating from base of hook. Appendages not sclerotized.
Remarks
.
Aurumcythere
gen. nov.
differs from all other genera of
Entocytherinae
in having hook and spurlike prominences at the distal end of its peniferum. Although the peniferum of
Psittocythere psitta
Hobbs & Walton, 1975
, known from
Tennessee
, USA, also bears a posteroventral hook, it lacks a spur-like prominence. Further, the entirety of the copulatory complex, including the structure of the hook and shape of the clasping apparatus, is vastly different. The overall shape of both the peniferum and clasping apparatus, and position of the clasping apparatus relative to the peniferum of
Aurumcythere
gen. nov.
most closely resembles that of the notocytherine genus
Herpetocythere
Hart & Hart 1967, currently known only from
Australia
. In addition, several
Herpetocythere
species bear a hook on the distal end of the peniferum, which, although anteroventral, appear similar in structure to the hook found in
Aurumcythere
gen. nov.
Despite several apparent morphological similarities, the presence of a well-developed respiratory lobe and presence of setae on the flexor surface of the dorsal antennal claw of the adult male in
Aurumcythere
gen. nov.
preclude it from being a member of the
Notocytherinae
.
Etymology.
Derived from the Latin
aurum
, meaning gold, as the taxon is known from a historic gold mining district. The suffix -cythere is the usual ending for generic names in the
Entocytheridae
.