Contribution to the Ostracoda (crustacea) Fauna of the karstic region of Texas with the description of a new species

Abstract

A total of 27 ostracod taxa were collected from 1995 to 2017 from 61 aquatic bodies in the karstic region of Texas (USA) and 1 in Mexico, including from caves, springs, spring-fed pools, and springs/drips in karstic rock-shelters. Among these taxa, Dolerocypris reyesi sp. nov. is a new species collected from a shallow pool connected to the springs above a rock-shelter. Three species (Penthesilenula aotearoa, P. incae, and Vestalenula marmonieri) are reported for the first time from North America. In addition, Typhlocypris cf. prespica and 4 taxa (Microdarwinula zimmeri, Cypridopsis cf. herpestica, Pseudocandona cf. parallela, P. cf. pratensis) are new records of ostracod fauna of the US and Texas, respectively. The phylogenetic results based on 31 taxa and 30 morphological characters revealed 4 subgroups belonging to 6 main clustering groups within the family Darwinulidae. Including the new species reported here, the total number of non-marine ostracods in Texas is increased to 115 species. The results indicate that the total number of species is far below the true diversity and richness of the state.