Topic
Sphaerolana
About: Sphaerolana is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4 publications have been published within this topic receiving 28 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: Sphaerolana, new genus, the second known American cirolanid isopod capable of flexing its body into a ball, is described from the Cuatro Cidnegas basin, central Coahuila, northern M dxico (type species, S. interstitialis).
Abstract: Sphaerolana, new genus, the second known American cirolanid isopod capable of flexing its body into a ball, is described from the Cuatro Cidnegas basin, central Coahuila, northern M dxico (type species, S. interstitialis). Two new species, S. interstitialis and S. affinis, both living in sediments of thermal springs, occur in partial sympatry in the area. Comparisons with the European genus Faucheria, and with the genus Creaseriella from Yucatan, Mdxico, indicate no close relationships. Most resemblances appear superficial, a result of parallel evolution. Ecology, associated crustacean species, and distribution of the two new forms are discussed. The northern part of the Mexican Plateau is yet poorly known from the biological standpoint, and the aquatic and mesic habitats of that vast, arid region continue to yield unique faunal elements. The Cuatro Cidnegas basin, because of its extensive series of aquatic environments (Minckley, 1969), supports a remarkably large and diversified biota, including a number of troglobitic crustaceans. One of these is 'an asellid o fthe subfamily Stenasellinae, the only known occurrence of that OldWorld group in the Western Hemisphere (Cole and Minckley, 1970). The other three forms are cirolanids, Speocirolana thermydronis Cole and Minckley (1966), and two well-marked species of the novel genus described below. Sphaerolana, new genus Unpigmented, eyeless. Capable of rolling into a ball. Pleonites 1-2 present, visible dorsally; no evidence of pleonites 3-5. Uropod sympodites broad, sub-triangular, narrow proximally; exopod and endopod greatly reduced, inserted in a notch on posterior margin of sympodite. Pereopods 1-3 prehensile, but pereopod 1 less so than the stouter 2-3. Exopods of pleopods 1-2, with plumose setae, all other rami unarmed; exopods of pleopods 4-5 partially divided by a suture.
15 citations
1 Jan 1995
TL;DR: Sphaerolana karenae is described from two localities in Nuevo Leon, Mexico and differs from the two previously known species in having three rather than two pleonites visible dorsally, in having the telson pointed rather than rounded, and in having only onerather than two retinacula on the endite of the maxilliped.
Abstract: —Sphaerolana karenae is described from two localities in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It is the third known species of Sphaerolana Cole & Minckley, 1970 and differs from the two previously known species in having three rather than two pleonites visible dorsally, in having the telson pointed rather than rounded, and in having only one rather than two retinacula on the endite of the maxilliped. Resumen. ^Sphaerolana karenae es descrita de dos localidades de Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Esta especie es la tercera conocida para Sphaerolana Cole & Minckley, 1970 y difiere de las dos especies previamente conocidas en poseer tres pleonitos dorsalmente visibles en vez de dos, el telson termina en punta mas que redondeada, y ademas, de tener solamente un retinaculum y no dos sobre el endito del maxilipedio. In 1970 Cole & Minckley described the very distinctive troglobitic isopod genus Sphaerolana, from the Cuatro Cienegas basin of central Coahuila state, Mexico. The two species included, C interstitialis (type sp>ecies) and C affinis. were characterized by their ability to roll into a ball, pleons with only 2 free pleonites, and uropods with tiny rami inserted in a lateral notch of the protopod. We describe herein a third species from the neighboring state to the southeast, Nuevo Leon. Sphaerolana karenae, new species Figs. 1-23 Sphaerolana a#iw/5. -Reddel l , 1981:87-88 [Misidentification provided Reddell by T. E. Bowman.] Material. —Y{o\oXypc <5, UANL (Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon) CCRICIOOl, and 3 paratypes, UNALCCRIC002, from small spring adjacent to PiIon River, Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, about 25°27'N, 99°48'W, 20 Jun 1988 and 17 May 1990, leg. M.Valdez-Marroquin and C. Rodriguez-AImaraz. —3 paratypes on wood in mine below Cueva de la Boca, Santiago, Nuevo Leon, about 25°27'N, 100^06'W, 22 May 1971, leg. S. Peck, deposited in National Museum of Natural History, USNM 139138. Description. —Length of hololype 7 mm, of largest paratype from USNM 139138 9.7 mm. Head almost 2 x as wide as long, without rostrum; frontal lamina about as wide as long; clypeus 4.2 x as wide as long. Pleon with 3 free pleonites; pleonite I longest; pleonitc 3 very short and inconspicuous. Pleotelson about as wide as long, expanded laterally anteriorly, ending in rounded point. Antenna-1 peduncle 3-segmcnled; flagellum 9-13-segmentcd; single esthete on 5th through subapical segments. Anlenna-2 pe208 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON I Figs. 1-11. Sphaerolana karenae, S from Montemorelos (except 2'): 1, Habitus, dorsal; 2, Antenna 1; 2', Antenna 1, ^ from Santiago; 3, Antenna 2; 4, Telson; 5, Right Mandible; 6, Maxilla 1; 7, Maxilla 2; 8. Maxilleped; 9, Pereopod I; 10, Pereopod 2; 11, Pereopod 3. VOLUME 108, NUMBER 2 209 Figs. 12-16. 12-14, Sphaerolanakarenae rromMontemoTelos: 12 pleopod 3,5; 13, Pleopod 2,5; 14,Pleopod 1, d. 15—16, Sphaerolana karenae from Santiago: 15, Left uropod, dorsal; 16, Rami of left uropod, dorsal. duncle 5-segmented, segment 5 longest; flagellum 12-15-segmented, reaching pereonite 4 when reflexed. Right mandible spinerow process with 11 spines; molar with 15 curved spines; palp segment 2 with 9 pectinate lateral setae and setules along entire medial margin; segment 3 with 11 pectinate setae on lateral margin, distal 2 stouter than others. Maxilla-1 proximal endite with 3 long plumose setae and 2 shorter naked setae; distal endite with 11 stout dentate spines. Maxilla-2 proximal endite medially pubescent, with 5 long plumose setae and 4 shorter setae; distal endite bilobed, inner lobe with 6 setae, outer lobe with 3 setae. Maxilliped endite with single retinaculum, 4 stout plumose setae, and 4 setules; palp segments 3 and 4 produced medially into weak lobes, outer margin of segment 4 with a stout seta, segment 5 with 9 long setae and numerous setules. Pereopods 1-3 with longer dactyls than those of pereopods 4—7. Pereopod 1 dactyl with a few short setae on anterior and posterior margins. Merus, carpus and propus with 3,3,2 stout toothed spines in pereopod 2; 2,3,2 spines in pereopod 3. Pleopod I protopod with 3 retinacula; exopod elongate, armed with 18 terminal and subterminal plumose marginal setae and row of setules on medial margin. Pleopod 2 protopod with 4 retinacula, 2 plumose setae, and 4 setules; exopod with 15 terminal and subterminal plumose marginal setae; appendix masculina reaching beyond endopod to tip of exopod. Pleopods 3-5 rami unarmed; exopods with partial transverse sutures. Pleopod 3 protopod with 4 setae and 5 setules; rami subequal. Uropod protopod with straight medial margin and broadly rounded apex; rami inserted in notch near apex. Etymology. —Named for the first author's daughter Ana Karen. Comparisons.—Tab\Q 1 compares taxonomic characters of the three known species, 210 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
8 citations
1 Jan 1993
TL;DR: Observations in the natural habitat and in aquaria show that the animal is unable to swim, but that it is rather active, moderately gregarious, and quite voracious (guanophagous).
Abstract: A new genus and species of cirolanid isopod are described from a stream in a cave in north-western Venezuela. The depigmented and anophtalmous cirolanid is very large, able to roll into a ball, and has a number of remarkable morphological characters, such as the almost complete coalescence of pleonal segments and telson and the strong morpho-physiological reduction of the uropods. A detailed comparison is made with the only other cirolanid genera sharing such characters: Faucheria from southern France, Sphaerolana from Mexico, and Skotobaena from East Africa, the conclusion being that no real affinities exist between the 4 genera. Observations in the natural habitat and in aquaria show that the animal is unable to swim, but that it is rather active, moderately gregarious, and quite voracious (guanophagous).
7 citations
1 Jan 2014
TL;DR: Rodriguez-Almaraz et al. as discussed by the authors studied 18 species of aquatic and terrestrial crustaceans living in or adjacent to the Cumbres National Park of Monterrey and found that five species correspond to large branchiopods, 10 species are peracarids and 3 species are decapods.
Abstract: The Cumbres National Park of Monterrey is a protected natural area by the federal government, which is adjacent to the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico. This location has a number of threats to the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. The surface water and groundwater are most affected by anthropogenic factors. In addition, the knowledge of the aquatic biota of the park is very limited. In this study, 18 species of aquatic and terrestrial crustaceans living in or adjacent to the national park are recorded. Five species correspond to large branchiopods, 10 species are peracarids and 3 species are decapods. The peracarids Sphaerolana karenae Rodriguez-Almaraz y Bowman, 1995 and Spelaeomysis villalobosi Garcia-Garza, Rodriguez-Almaraz y Bowman, 1996 and the crayfish Procambarus regiomontanus (Villalobos, 1954) are endemics. Six species are non-native in this protected natural area and adjacent areas, of which 5 are terrestrial isopods and the red crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852). The distribution and conservation status of all macrocrustaceans is discussed.
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1970 | 1 |