Sinev A.Yu.1, Vam Damme K.2, Kotov A.A.3 2006. Redescription of tropical-temperate cladocerans Alona diaphana King, 1853 and Alona davidi Richard, 1895 and their translocation to Leberis Smirnov, 1989 (Branchiopoda: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.14 (for 2005). No.3: 183–205 [in English].
1 Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, Moscow 119899 Russia. E-mail: artem_sinev@mail.ru
2 Gent University, Department of Animal Ecology, Ledeganckstr. 35, 9000 Gent Belgium.
3 A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Leninsky Prospect 33, Moscow 117071 Russia.
KEY WORDS: Cladocera, Anomopoda, Chydoridae, Leberis, systematics, morphology, redescription.
ABSTRACT: A comparison between populations of the diaphana-group of Alona Baird, 1843 from Australia and America confirms that Australian A. diaphana King, 1853 and American A. davidi Richard, 1895 are separate species rather than synonyms. Their trunk limb morphology is here studied for the first time.
Both species differ by size, the number of setae on the ventral margin of valves, and numerous details of trunk limb and postabdominal morphology. They share a number of characters, such as an ovoid body shape, dorsal keel and blunt rostrum, separating them from other Alona and suggesting a relation with Celsinotum Frey, 1991 and Leberis Smirnov, 1989. Comparison of their morphology with that of the only species of the latter genus, L. aenigmatosa Smirnov, 1989, reveals that differences are of species rather than of generic level. Therefore, both A. diaphana and A. davidi are relocated to Leberis, with small adjustments of the genus diagnosis.