A new genus and species of Syncarida, family Parabathynellidae, is described from China. Sinobathynella decamera n. g. n. sp. is one of the world’s largest known Bathynellacea species (3.7 mm) and displays several exclusive characters: 10 segments in the antennule, exopod of thoracopods 3–7 with 10 segments and thoracopod 8 female with two spines and two long setae. The new species also has a unique combination of characters: an antennule with 10 segments; antenna with six segments; pars incisiva of the mandible with three teeth and pars molaris with 14 teeth; distal endite of maxillule with seven claws; epipods present in thoracopods 3–7; an absence of pleopods; endopod of thoracopod 8 male with two long setae; 20 spines on the sympod, and three or four spines on the endopod of the uropod. This is the first time that the Bathynellacea (family Parabathynellidae) has been found in China, extending the range of distribution of this taxon in Asia.

This work was supported by project EVK2-CT-2001-00121 (European Projects PASCALIS) and Convenio Junta de Castilla y León and CSIC.

14 páginas, 4 figuras 2 tables et al..

Peer reviewed