Kempfcyclocypris Karanovic 2011, gen. nov.

Kempfcyclocypris gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Carapace ovoid to subtriangular in lateral view. LV overlaps RV ventrally, anteriorly and posteriorly. Surface of carapace smooth, covered with long setae. Selvage peripheral anteriorly and posteriorly on both valves. A1 6-segmented. A 2 in male 5-segmented, penultimate segment divided, but t2 and t3 setae not transformed into sexual bristles. A2 sexually dimorphic: G1 and G3 claws in males reduced, z2 seta transformed into claw, z1 and z3 being seta-like. Swimming setae completely missing. Terminal segment of Md-palp elongated, but never longer than twice the width. Terminal segment of Mxl palp square. Prehensile palps very slightly asymmetrical. T2 with basal seta. Basal segment of T3 with “d2” seta. Setae “e”, “f” and “g” not short. Seta “h1” and “h2” subequally long. UR with all setae and claws present and normally developed. Hemipenis with lobes “a” and “b” well developed. Zenker organ with 7 whorls of spines. Genital field rounded.

Type and only species. Kempfcyclocypris australis gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. The genus is named after Dr Eugen K. Kempf as a friendly acknowledgment of his contribution to ostracodology.

Remarks and affinities. The appearance of the T3 and the prehensile palps clearly places this new genus in the subfamily Cyclocypridinae. It stands isolated from other representatives of the subfamily because of the 6-segmented A1 and the complete reduction of the swimming setae on the A2. It is, however, more closely related to Cyclocypris Brady & Norman, 1889 than to the other five genera of the subfamily. Cyclocypris and Kempfcyclocypris gen. nov. both have a long “g” seta on the T3, which is quite short in other genera. Like in Cyclocypris, males of Kempfcyclocypris do not have t2 and t3 setae on the A2 transformed into sexual bristles and the prehensile palps are less asymmetrical. Kempfcyclocypris is found only in eastern Australia, where it lives in the subterranean waters, which might explain the complete reduction of the swimming setae. The lack of the eye pigmentations and well developed sensory setae on both A1 and A2 are also indicators that this species is a true stygobiont.