Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis ( Ma & Li, 2011 ) Karanovic & Kim, 2014

Karanovic, Tomislav & Kim, Kichoon, 2014, New insights into polyphyly of the harpacticoid genus Delavalia (Crustacea, Copepoda) through morphological and molecular study of an unprecedented diversity of sympatric species in a small South Korean bay, Zootaxa 3783 (1), pp. 1-96 : 40-47

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3783.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E6155BDC-AEAE-475D-BC83-61B3B863344C
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5062489
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6878D460-FF89-FFFD-64D0-FED707F0FB54
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis ( Ma & Li, 2011 )
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis ( Ma & Li, 2011) comb. nov.

( Figs. 24–29 View FIGURE 24 View FIGURE 25 View FIGURE 26 View FIGURE 27 View FIGURE 28 View FIGURE 29 )

Synonymy. Delavalia qingdaoensis sp. nov. – Ma & Li 2011, p. 1087, figs. 1–8.

Specimens examined. One female dissected on one slide (collection number NIBRIV0000232685), one male dissected on one slide (collection number NIBRIV0000232686), three females together on one SEM stub (collection number NIBRIV0000232687), 20 females and five copepodids in ethanol (collection number NIBRIV0000232688), 11 females destroyed for DNA sequence (one successful amplification, Code 0113), South Korea, South Sea, Gwangyang Bay, sampling station 15, muddy sediments, 34.890139°N 127.795111°E, 18 November 2012, leg. K. Kim ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) GoogleMaps .

One female destroyed for DNA sequence (amplification unsuccessful), South Korea, South Sea, Gwangyang Bay, sampling station 12, muddy sediments, 34.951389°N 127.734361°E, 18 November 2012, leg. K. Kim ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) GoogleMaps .

One female destroyed for DNA sequence (amplification unsuccessful), South Korea, South Sea, Gwangyang Bay, sampling station 14, muddy sediments, 34.924333°N 127.852333°E, 18 November 2012, leg. K. Kim ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) GoogleMaps .

One female destroyed for DNA sequence (amplification unsuccessful), South Korea, South Sea, Gwangyang Bay, sampling station 17, muddy sediments, 34.824222°N 127.787750°E, 18 November 2012, leg. K. Kim ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) GoogleMaps

Redescription. Female (based on six examined specimens). Body length from 523 to 611 µm. Body segmentation, colour, nauplius eye, hyaline fringes, integument thickness and surface appearance as in Wellstenhelia calliope sp. nov., including minute sparse pits visible only on highest magnifications on scanning electron microscope (for example, see Fig. 28D View FIGURE 28 ). Most somite ornamentation also similar to Wellstenhelia calliope , and presumed homologous pore and sensilla also numbered with same Arabic numerals (see Figs. 24A, B, C, D View FIGURE 24 25A, B View FIGURE 25 ) to allow easier comparison. Habitus ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 27A View FIGURE 27 , 28A View FIGURE 28 ) more robust, with prosome/urosome length ratio about one, body length/width ratio 3.1, and cephalothorax twice as wide as genital double-somite.

Rostrum ( Figs. 24C View FIGURE 24 , 27B View FIGURE 27 ) with slightly narrower tip than in Wellstenhelia calliope (arrowed in Fig. 24C View FIGURE 24 ), but without any other difference in shape or ornamentation.

Cephalothorax ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 27A View FIGURE 27 , 28B View FIGURE 28 ) about 0.9 times as long as wide; represents 26% of total body length. Surface of cephalothoracic shield with 36 paired or unpaired sensilla and pores, most of which probably homologous to those in Wellstenhelia calliope (indicated with Arabic numerals in illustrations) and Wellstenhelia clio (indicated with currency symbols in illustrations), but six pores and sensilla missing (nos. 14, 19, 21, 33, 34, 35); absolute and relative positions of some pores and sensilla different; posterior dorsal sensilla no. 40 paired.

Pleuron of second pedigerous somite ( Figs. 24D View FIGURE 24 , 28C, D View FIGURE 28 ) ornamented as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except lateral pair of sensilla no. 48 (arrowed in Fig. 24D View FIGURE 24 ) and anterior pair of pores no. 43 missing.

Pleurons of third pedigerous somite ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 28C View FIGURE 28 ), fourth pedigerous somite ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 28C View FIGURE 28 ), and first urosomite ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 27C View FIGURE 27 , 28C View FIGURE 28 ) as in Wellstenhelia calliope .

Genital double-somite ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 25A View FIGURE 25 , 27C View FIGURE 27 ) as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except anterior part even more inflated laterally, forming spiniform chitinous processes, central part even more constricted, only four large dorsal sensilla present in anterior part (arrowed in Fig. 24B View FIGURE 24 ), and ventral pair of sensilla no. 73 much more widely spaced (arrowed in Fig. 25A View FIGURE 25 ).

Last threeurosomites ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 25A, B View FIGURE 25 , 27E View FIGURE 27 , 28E View FIGURE 28 ) as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except anal somite slightly more elongated and with more slender and denser spinules along dorsal distal margin (arrowed in Fig. 25B View FIGURE 25 ).

Caudal rami ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 25A, B, C View FIGURE 25 , 27D View FIGURE 27 , 29F View FIGURE 29 ) shape, armature and most ornamentation as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except central part of inner margin without spinules (arrowed in Fig. 25B View FIGURE 25 , but see also Fig. 29F View FIGURE 29 ), posterior ventral pore no. 83 missing, principal apical setae strongly fused basally (arrowed in Fig. 25B View FIGURE 25 ), and middle apical seta inflated and in most specimens terminates bluntly (arrowed in Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 ), i.e. shorter than outer apical seta; rami about twice as long as anal somite, nearly cylindrical, 4.3 times as long as wide (ventral view), slightly divergent, and with space between them about one ramus width.

Antennula ( Figs. 24E View FIGURE 24 , 27B View FIGURE 27 ), antenna ( Fig. 29B View FIGURE 29 ), labrum, paragnaths, mandibula, maxillula, maxilla, and maxilliped as in Wellstenhelia calliope .

Swimming legs ( Figs. 24F View FIGURE 24 , 25D View FIGURE 25 , 29C, D View FIGURE 29 ) segmentation, ornamentation, armature, and even proportions of various armature elements as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except spinules in proximal row on coxae much longer (arrowed in Fig. 24F View FIGURE 24 ) and first endopodal segments without anterior pore.

Fifth leg ( Figs. 24A, B View FIGURE 24 , 25A, E View FIGURE 25 , 29E View FIGURE 29 ) segmentation, general shape, number of armature elements, and most ornamentation as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except second endopodal seta from inner side proportionately much shorter (arrowed in Figs. 24A View FIGURE 24 , 25A, E View FIGURE 25 ), basal part of exopod somewhat narrower (arrowed in Fig. 25E View FIGURE 25 ), and another pore visible on posterior side of exopod. Length ratio of endopodal setae, starting from inner side, 1: 1: 1.9: 1.6. Length ratio of exopodal setae, starting from inner side, 1: 0.4: 0.4: 1: 0.7: 0.6.

Sixth leg as in Wellstenhelia calliope .

Male (based on allotype and three paratypes). Body length from 466 to 492 µm. Habitus, colour, rostrum, shape and ornamentation of cephalothorax, all pedigerous somites, ornamentation of last threeurosomites ( Fig. 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ), caudal rami ( Fig. 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ), antenna ( Fig. 29A View FIGURE 29 ), labrum ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ), paragnaths, mandibula ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ), maxillula ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ), maxilla ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ), maxilliped ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ), first swimming leg, third swimming leg, and coxae, bases, and exopods of second and fourth ( Fig. 28F View FIGURE 28 ) swimming legs as in female. Prosome/urosome ratio 1.1, greatest width at posterior end of cephalothorax, body length/width ratio about 3.6; cephalothorax twice as wide as genital somite in dorsal view. Genital somite and third urosomite not fused.

First urosomite ( Fig. 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ) slightly narrower and longer than in female but also with three pairs of sensilla (nos. 64, 65, 66) and one pair of pores (no. 63).

Genital somite ( Fig. 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ) as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except lateral pore no. 68 situated somewhat closer to ventral side.

Third urosomite ( Fig. 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ) as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except ventral row of spinules not interrupted between sensilla pair no. 73 (arrowed in Fig. 26B View FIGURE 26 ), and those sensilla also more widely spaced.

Antennula ( Fig. 26C, D View FIGURE 26 ) shape, segmentation, and most armature and ornamentation as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except much shorter generally, especially ultimate segment (arrowed in Fig. 26D View FIGURE 26 ), and third and fourth segments wiht one and two additional setae respectively; setal fomula thus 1.11.7+ae.9+ae.1.2.1.4.6+ae.

Endopod of second swimming leg ( Fig. 26E View FIGURE 26 ) with second and third segments fused, as in Wellstenhelia calliope , but with only two apical elements (arrowed in Fig. 26E View FIGURE 26 ).

Endopod of fourth swimming leg ( Fig. 26F View FIGURE 26 ) with inner seta on first segment slender and plumose, as in Wellstenhelia calliope , but outer apical element on third segment transformed into powerful claw (arrowed in Fig. 26F View FIGURE 26 ).

Fifth leg ( Fig. 26A View FIGURE 26 ) shape, armature, and ornamentation as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except inner exopodal element much stronger and longer (arrowed in Fig. 26A View FIGURE 26 ); length ratio of exopodal armature elements, starting from inner side 1: 0.7: 0.4.

Sixth leg ( Fig. 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ) as in Wellstenhelia calliope , except middle seta somewhat stronger); length ratio of armature elements, starting from inner side, 1: 1.5: 1.

Variability. The middle apical caudal seta can be more or less inflated in female and more or less fused with outer apical seta, and distal part can be completely missing or present as a short slender extension of the inflated part. This seta is less noticeably inflated in males. All other features are extremely conservative.

Morphological affinities. Autapomorphies of Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis ( Ma & Li, 2011) comb. nov. include slender and dense dorsal spinules along distal margin of the anal somite ( Fig. 25B View FIGURE 25 ), inflated inner principal caudal seta ( Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 ), long spinules on the first leg coxa ( Fig. 24F View FIGURE 24 ), second seta from inner side on the female fifth leg endopod short ( Fig. 25E View FIGURE 25 ), and very narrow base of the female fifth leg exopod ( Fig. 25E View FIGURE 25 ). Other unique features include the reduced armature of the male second leg endopod ( Fig. 26E View FIGURE 26 ) and transformed inner apical seta on the male fourth leg endopod ( Fig. 26F View FIGURE 26 ), but as mentioned above, males or male characters are unknown in four congeners. The long and slender caudal rami of Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis are superficially similar to those of Wellstenhelia calliope sp. nov. (see above), but they lack spinules along the posterior part of the inner margin in the former species, as well as the posterior pair of ventral pores (no. 83). As mentioned in the affinities section of Wellstenhelia calliope (see above) morphological differences between these two species are numerous, and it is quite probable that the elongated caudal rami evolved convergently in these two species. All other congeners have much shorter caudal rami than Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis , and each can be distinguished additionally from it by several other differences in the ornamentation of somites or other micro-characters. In fact, this species has a somewhat isolated position in the genus. The Mediterranean Wellstenhelia bocqueti ( Soyer, 1971) comb. nov. has basally confluent principal caudal setae, similar to those of Wellstenhelia qingdaoensis , but the former species has much shorter caudal rami, differently shaped female fifth leg, and shorter ventral rows of spinules on urosomites.