Branchinecta hiberna, a new species of fairy shrimp (Crustacea: Anostraca) from western North America

Abstract

Branchinecta hiberna, a new species of fairy shrimp, is described from temporary pools in the Great Basin region of south central Oregon, northeastern California, and adjacent Nevada. The new species shares several characters with Branchinecta cornigera Lynch, 1958: males bear a similar large patch of small spines on the basal segment of antenna 2, and females bear the similar robust antenna 2 with medial spur, brood pouch shape, and resting egg (cyst) morphology. The new species differs from B. cornigera in the shape of the distal segment of antenna 2 and the number and size of spines on the paired penis warts of males, and in the thoracic spine pattern and lack of dorsal cephalic projections in females. Observations on behavior and ecology of B. hiberna are discussed.