Argulus ventanensis sp. n. (Crustacea, Branchiura) parasite of Hypsiboas pulchellus tadpoles (Anura, Hylidae)

TANZOLA, RUBEN DANIEL; VILLEGAS OJEDA M. A.

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences

Electronic Peer Review Scientific Article

Año: 2017 vol. 12 p. 218 - 226

Argulus ventanensis is described as a new species of crustacean branchiuran ectoparasitic on Hypsiboas pulchellus tadpoles. It was collected from the Belisario stream in Villa Ventana, Buenos Aires province, Argentina (38° 4´ S, 61° 55´ W). The most strikingmorphological differences between A. violaceus, a sympatric congener, and the new species are the body size, development of the lateral sinus, the extent and armature of antennae, armature of the rods supporting the suckers (first maxillae), the proportional length of the second antennal segment in respect to the third, the length of the flagellae on the first and second legs, the basal plate of maxillae, the number of setae on the caudal rami and the form of the respiratory areas. It also differs from A. patagonicus in the development of the carapace which only covers the first two pairs of legs, the general colouring, the form of the post maxillary spines, spatulate versus pointed, the flagellae on the first and the second pair of legs and the number of setae on the caudal rami.