BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Volume 4 Number 6 THE OSTRACODS OF THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE FROM THE LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE-FLINT BASIN: With a Review of the Occurrence of the Genus in Florida, and Descriptions of Two New Species C. W. Hart, Jr. .immj-/ UNIVERSIT¥ OF- FLORIDA Gainesville 1959 The numbers of THE BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, will be published at irregular intervals. Volumes will contain about 800 pages and will not necessarily be completed in any one calendar year. OLIVER L. AUSTIN, Ja., Editor The publication of this number of THE BUL- LETIN has been made possible by a grant from the Graduate School, University of Florida. All communications concerning purchase or exchange of the publication should be addressed to the Curator of Biological Sciences, Florida State Museum, Seagle Building, Gainesville, Florida. Manuscripts should be sent to the Editor of the BULLETIN, Flint Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville; Florida. Published 15 May 1959 Price for this issue $.20 THE OSTRACODS OF THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE FROM THE LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE-FLINT BASIN: With a Review of the Occurrence of the Genus, in Florida, and Descriptions of Two New Species C. W. HART, JR. 1 SYNOPSIS: During a systematic survey of the flora and fauna of the Apa- lachicola River drainage area supported by the National Park Service and the National Science Foundation, those ostracods epizoic on craySshes wete studied. A key to the known species of ent66ytherid ostracods f6und in Florida and the lower Chattahoochee-Flint basin, a survey of the ranges of these ostracods, a list of their crayfish "hosts," and descriptions of two new ostracod species are in- cluded. The new species, Entocythere geophila and E, torreva, are placed in a new group, the Geophila Group, which is here designated. INTRODUCTION During a survey of the decapod crustaceans of the lower Chatta- hoochee-Flint Basin in the late summer of 1955 (Hobbs and Hart, 1959), a number of epizoic ostracods were obtained from the cray- fishes. Among these specimens from 26 localities-14 in Florida, 3 in southeastern Alabama, and 9 in southwestern Georgia-were sev- eral species of the genus Entocythere. Represented among them are E. elliptica Hoff, E. hobbsi Hoff, E. equicurva Hoff, and two new spe- cies that are described below. There appear to be several more un- described species from Georgia and Florida, but their determinations must await the study of larger series from the area. Because only one previous study (Hoff, 1944) has been made of the Florida entocytherid ostracods, it seems appropriate that a key to the species, a survey of the ranges, and a list of the "hosts for all species from the state be included here with the descriptions of the two new species. All the ostracods were mounted on slides. They were transferred directly from 70 percent alcohol to a drop of Hoyer's fluid on a slide, positioned with a needle, and covered with NO. 1 glass cover slips. It was found that specimens could be "dissected" for better observa- tion of details merely by pressing the cover slip directly over the ' The author is Editor of Scientific Publications of the Academy of. Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He is particularly interested in the taxoriomy of ostra- codIs and in the morphology of crayfishes. These investigations were supported in part by Research Giant No. G-942 from the National Science Foundation. ' Manuscript submitted 12 April 1958.-ED. 194 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 4 -specimen before the mounting medium dried. This was done With a needle or-forceps while observing the specimen under a stereosc6pic microscope. Paratypes of the new species. have been deposited in the collec- tions of Dr. Horton Hobbs, Jr., Dr. Enrique Rioja, Dr. E. A. Crawford, and the author. A Key to the Known Species of Ostracods of the Genus Entocythere Found in Florida and the Lower Chattahoochee-Flint Basin (Based on the Male) la. Length of distal portion of the base equal to or shorter than vertical ramus of clasping apparatus 2 b. Length df distal portion of base longer than vartical ranius Of clasping apparatus (figs. 6 and 11) . - ·--- - 6 2a. External border of clasping apparatus entire (flgs. 12, 14, and 15) _______.-.. 3 b. A taIon or emargination on external b6rder (?f clasping aDparatus (figs. 18 and 17) ES Ba. Clasping apparatus stout, sw611en at juficture of two rami; two ranii never joined at. an angle much greater than a right arigle (fig. 15)...E. elliptica b. Clasping apparatus slender; little, if any, swollen at the juncture of vertical aild horizontal ran·~i (figs. 12 and 14) 4 4a. Clasping apparatus C-shaped; distal margin with two teeth. Teeth of internal border. of horizontal ramus grouped together some distance proximal to distal margin (fig. 14) F equicurva b. Claspidg apparatus not distinctly C-shaped; distal margin with more than two teeth. Teeth of internal border of horizontal ramus well- developed (fg. 12) F. dorsorotunda 54 Two teeth on external border of horizontal ramus subequal in .size (fig. 18). E tatu?Us b. An elongate talon on external border of horizontal ramus and occasionally a tootl~ distal to it (figs. 17-19) F hobbsi 6a. Distal portion of base bifuicate (fig. 11) k torreya sp. nov. b. Distal portion of base blunt with a dorsaily-directed protuberance (fig. 6) F geophila sp. nov. ANNOTATED LIST In recent year5 a number of species groups in the genus Entocy- there have been established to express the interrelationships of its members. For the most part these groups are based on certain char- acteristics inherent in the morphology of the clasping apparhti. Three previously recognized groups are represented 'in the Florida fauna, but the two ostracods described here are not readily assignable to 1959 HART: OSTRACODS OF THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE 195 any of them. Because of the highly distinctive distal portions of the bases of their copulatory complexes, I propose that these animals be assigned to a new group-the Geophila Group. Geophila Group (here designated) DEFINIMON.-Terminal tooth of mandible with cusps. NO finger guards on copulat6ry complex. Ekternal border of clasping appa- ratus entire; internal border with one or two small denticles at apex, but otherwise entire. Distal portion of the base conspicuously large and extending ventrally some distance beyond the clasping apparatus. Female without a "rumed skirt." The two new species, E. geophila and E. torreya, described below, are assigned to this group. Entocvthere geophila, sp. nov. Type specimens of this species were taken from a collection of erayftshes consisting of Cambarus d. diogenes Girard, Procambarus spiculifer (LeConte), and P. paeninsulanus (Faxon). It seems prob- able that a host specificity exists between this ostracod and the bur- rowing crayfish C. d. diogenes. It was found only in collections in which this crayfish appeared, and in n6 instance.was it found in col- lections of P. spiculifer and P. paeninsulanus when they were unac- companied by C. d. diogenes. The name geophila has been chosen to designate the apparent subsurface habitat of the species. MALE.-The shell (fig. 1) is subelliptical in outline and somewhat vaulted posterior to the midlength. The Ventral margin is straight or slightly convex, and is cgntinuous with the well rounded arcs that form the anterior and posterior margins. Setae are scarce, but they occur singly or in pairs near the anterior and posterior margins. The . eye is located approximately 1/5th the shell length from the anterior margin. The shell, which lacks any features that might be of special taxo- nomic importance, is also fairly constant in size. The measurements of eight male specimensare given bdow (mounted in Hoyer's Fluid and measured to the nearest .01 mm.). Length Height Length Height .40 mm. .28 mm. .41 .28 .40 .28 .48 .25 .40 .25 .40 .22 .42 .25 .41 .24 196 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 4 The antennule is composed of six podomeres, of which the proxi- mal one is the longest and the third from the base the shortest. The second and the distal three podomeres diminish regularly distally. The basal podomere bears one subapical seta which extends to the midlength of the second podomere. The second podomere bears one seta which extends distally to the midIength of the fourth podomere. The third podomere bears two setae, both of which extend to approxi- mately the midlength of the penultimate podomere. The antipenulti- mate podomere has four setae arranged around its distal edge; .the penultimate podomere is devoid of setae, and the ultimate podomere bears four setae. These latter four setae are subequal in length to that of the distal three podomeres combined. The antenna (fig. 3) cofisists of four podomeres. The basal podo- mere is devoid of setae, and the exopodite, or "flagellum," extends from its distal extensor margin for a distance equal to the length of the remainder of the antenna. The second, or antipenultimate pod- oinere, is about 1.8 times as long as it is wide, and bears a single seta on its distal flexor margin. This seta extends beyond the proximal portion of the penultimate podomere. The penultimate podomere is divided into two distinct parts which are subequal in length. The distal Rexor angle of the basal portion of the penultimate podomere bears two setae, one of which is half the length of the distal portion of the podomere, and one of which is subequal in length to the distal portion. A single seta is located near the midlength of the flexor surface of the distal portion of the penultimate podomere and ex- tends to the base of the terminal claw. In most specimens the ventral claw is straight. This claw is equal in legnth to the distal portion of the penultimate p6domere. The dorsal claw is heavier than the ven- tral one, and the enlarged distal portion bears a row of teeth on its ventral edge. The shortest claw, which also bears a row of teeth on its ventral edge, is about half the length and thickness of the ventral claw. The three claws are borne on the short terminal podomere. The protopodite of the mandible (fig. 4) bears a distal row of six multicuspid teeth. The proximal tooth has 2 cusps, the four middle ones 3; and the distal one 5. The convex surface of the protopodite bears a short seta just proximal to the level of the proximal tooth. The podomeres of the mandibular palp are not clearly defined. On the flexor surface of the proximal portion of. the palp is a long seta which extends to the base of the terminal setae. Two additional setae are borne on the distal extensor surface of the penultimate podomere; the proximal one extends to the midlength of the terminal setae, the 1959 HART : OSTRACODS OF THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE 197 distal. one to the base of the two slender terminal setae. The ultimate podomere bears three setae, two of which are slenderer than the third. These three setae are approximately equal in length, but be- cause the two finer ones are borne slightly proximal to the heavy one; they appear to be shorter. The maxilla (fig. 5) bears three setae on an unsegmented palp. The two distal setae are curved gently ventrad, and the ventral one is somewhat· heavier than the other. The third seta, which is b6rne slightly proximad on the dorsal surface of the palp, extends to' the midlength of the two just mentioned. The protopodite of the maxilla bears two terminal setae which extend distad beyond the bases of the two terminal setae of the palp. The copulatory complex (fig. 6) of this Ostracod, although differ-, ing markedly from those of the previously described species of En- tocythere, consists of the usual elements. The distal portion of the base (dp) is heavily sclerotized and extends distally beyond the clasp- ing apparatus (ca) for a distance subequal to the length of the hori- zontal ramus of the clasping apparatus. A fal~ate corneous penis (p) :is located on the mesial face of the distal portion of the base, aud a clearly delineated sperm tube extends proximally through the 3 base. Attached to the proximal portion of the base (pp) are the typi- cal short dorsal finger (df) and the longer ·ventral finger (vf). The dorsal finger may bear either one or two terminal spines, and the ventral Bnger one spine. The horizontal and vertical rami of the clasping apparatus are easily distinguishable; the vertical ramus is about 1.5 times as long as the horizontal ramus and is S-shaped; the horizontal ramus is not curved, its external border is convex, its in- ternal border is straight (or nearly so), and it bears two or three distal serrations, FEMALE.LThe shell of the female (fig. 2) is similar to that of the male except that it is slightly smaller. The measurements of nine female specimens are given below (mounted in Hoyer's fluid and measured to the nearest .01 mm). Length Height Length Height .38 mm. .28· mm. .40 .25 .89 .28 .39 .28 .40 .25 .38 .23 .38 .22 .37 .22 .40 .24 198 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 4 TypE LOCALITY AND RANGE.-Entocythere geophila was found in three collections from Florida and one from Georgia. Specimens (holotypes and paratypes) taken in the type locality-a clear, coffee- colored stream and adjacent craylsh burrows on Route 71, 11.4 miles north of Altha, Jadkson County, Florida-were from a erayfish col- lection consistihg of Procambarus spiculifer (LeConte), P. paeninsul- anus (Faxon), and Can:barus d. diogenes Girard. The collection was made on 3 September 1955. Entocythere geophila was also found in a erayfish collection consisting of P. spiculifer and C. d. diogenes that was taken 5.6 miles north of Altha, Jackson County, Florida on Route 71 on 8 September 1955; in a Ofayfish collection consisting wholly of Cambarus d. diogenes taken 8.9 miles north of Altha, Jack- son County, Florida on Route 71 on 3 September 1955; and in a crayfish collection consisting of Procambarus spiculifer and Cambarus d. diogenes taken from Spring Creek, 4.8 miles east of Iron City, Georgia on 1 September 1955. REMARKS.-Although evidence is not conclusive, I suspect a .de- gree of host specificity for this ostracod. Cambarus d. diogenes was represented in every collection from which it was taken, and in one case was the sole host. Holotype (male), allotype (female), and para- type (male) are in the U. S. National Museum in Washington, D. C. (USNM 101464, 101465), and additional paratypes are in the collec- 1 tions listed in the introduction. Entocythere torreya sp. nov. All of the specimens of this ostracod were taken from the erayfish Cambarus d. diogenes Girard. The specific name refers to the type Explanation of Figures 1-11 Entocuthere geophila, sp. nov. Figure 1. Lateral view of shell of male. ' ,Figure 2. Lateral view of shell 6f female. Figure 8. Antenna of male. Figure 4. Mandible of male. , F.igure 5. Maxilla of male. Figure 6. Copulatory complex of male. Entoci#here torreva, sp. nov. Figure 7. Lateral view of shell of male. Figure 8. Antenna of .male. Figure 9. Mandible of male. , Figure 10. Maxilla of male. Figure 11. Copulatory complex of male. 1959 HART : 0STRACODS OF. THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE 199 - SUM , .SM< r--Z -z- L is . - 4-% 2. ~ 8 9 DE 11. R 10, 200 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 4 locality-Torreya State Park, Florida. Because none of the speci- mens was found copulating and because several other ostracods were also found in the collection, I hesitate to describe the females found in the collection as females of E. torreya Therefore only the male is described here. The holotype (male) and paratype (male) are in the U. S. National Museum (USNM 101462, 101463), and additional paratypes are in the collections listed in the introduction. MALE.-The shell of this species (fig. 7) is subelliptical in outline and is similar to that of E. geophila. It is, however, somewhat larger -averaging 0.46 mm. in length. The measuremdnts of six specimens are given below (mounted in Hoyer's fluid and measured to the near- est .01 mm.). Length Height Length Height .45 mm. .28 mm. .46 .29 .47 .28. .45 .29 .48 .27 .48 .27 The antennule, antenna (fig. 8), mandible (fig. 9), maxilla (fig. 10), and the thoracic legs of Entocythere torreya are, for all practical pur- poses, identical with those of Entocythere geophila. It is therefore unnecessary to describe them here. The copulatory complex (flg. 11) of this ostracod basically resem- bles the copulatory complex of Entocytherk geophila, which is de- scribed above. The easily recognizable distal portion of the' base is heavily sclerotized ind extends distally beyond the clasping appa- ratus for a distance subequal to the length of the horizontal ramus of the clasping apparatus. A falcate corneous penis is located on the mesial face of the distal portion of. the base, and attached te the proximal porti6n of the base are the typical short dorsal Rnger and the longer and more delicate ventral finger. The dorsal finger may bear one or two terminal spines, and the ventral finger one spine. The h6rizontal and vertical rami of the clasping apparatus are not sharply delineated, the vertical ramus being only slightly longer than the horizontal ramus. The horizontal ramus bears a few distal serra- tions, but these show considerable variation from one animal to an- other. The distolateral surface of the horizontal ramus may also bear a variable number of low ridges. TypE LoCALITY.-The only specimens of this ostracod were taken from the crayfish Cambarus d. diogenes collected from burrows near Blue Springs, Torreya State Park, Liberty County, Florida on 8 Sep- tember 1955. 1959 HART: OSTRACODS OF THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE 201 Illinoisensis Group DEFINITIoN.-Terminal tooth of mandible without cusps (except in E. ruibali). No Bnger guard on copulatory complex. . External border of clasping apparatus entire; internal border with four or more serrations. Females without a "Turned skirt." Only dne species of this group occurs in the Chattahoochee area, but as a second one has been reported northeast and southeast of it, it may subsequently be found here. Entocythere elliptica Hoff, 1944 (Figure 15) Specimens of E. elliptica were collected in Calhoun, Liberty, and Gadsden counties, Florida; in Decatur and Henry counties, Georgia; and in Houston County, Alabama. The crayfishes represented in these collections were Procambarus spiculifer,.P. paeninsulanus, P. Pucnogonopodus, P. kilbyi, P. r. rodent and Cambarus latimanus. Hoff's type specimens were collected north of Fargo, Clinch County, Georgia on Procambarus seminolae. He states that E. el- liptica is common in Florida and Georgia, and mentions its associa- tion with P. alleni in Orange County, Florida. In m6unting one of the specimens of E. elliptica foutid in Liberty County, Florida, the clasping apparatus happened to be lying in such a way that it could be seen in caudal aspect. When I later examined this specimen I noticed a peculiar broad scoop-like projection at the angle near the outer border. Because this is not mentioned in any previous study, it is illustrated here (fig. 16). Entocythere dorsorotunda .Hoff, 1944 (Figure 12) E. dorsorotunda was not found in the collections from the Apa- lachicola River drainage area. As in the case of E. talutus (see below), it is included here because 0f the likelihood of its 6ccurring in the area. The type specimens were taken from Procambarus advena collected near Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia, but this· ostracod has also been collected in Clay, Dade, and Charlotte counties, Flor- ida, and has been found associated with P. alleni and P. seminolae. Heterodonta Group DEFINITION.-Terminal tooth of mandible with cusps. No finger guard on copulatory complex. Talon or excrescence present on ex- ternal border of clasping apparatus, or if without such an excrescence, 202 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 4 the internal border of clasping apparatus with only one denticle. Females without a "ruffied skirt." This group is represented by two species in Florida, only one of which is known to occur in this region. 2 '. 13I2 I4 /pal- 15 16 17 Explanation of Figures 1249 Figures 12-15 and 17-19. Lateral views of clasping apparatus of males (after Hoff, 1944). ' Figure 16. Caudomesial view of clasping apparatus of male E. eIZiptica. Figure 12. Entbcuthere dorsorotunda. Figure 13. ·Entoc!/there talulus. Figure 14. Entocuthere equicurea. Figure 15. Entocythere elliptica. Figure 16. Entocythere elliptica. Figure 17. Entoci/there hobbsi. Figure 18. Entocythere hobbsi (distal portion 6nly). Figure 19. Entocythere hobbsi (di5tal portion onjy) Entocythere hobbsi Hoff, 1944 (Figures 17-19) A number of specimens of E. hobbsi ·*ere obtained from collec- tions made in Gadsden and Liberty counties, Florida. · The Hetero- 1959 HART: OSTRACODS OF THE GENUS ENTOCYTHERE 203 donta group is also represented by several specimens from Decatur County, Georgia, and Jacksen and Calhoun counties, Florida. Among them appear to be several undescribed species, the 'determinations of whieh must await a more extensive study of a larger number of specimens. The specimens of E. hobbsi were taken from collections 6£ cray- fishes containing Procambarus leonensis, P. paeninsulanus, and F. spiculifer. The undetermined members of the group were from col- ' lections containing P. spiculifer, P. pycnogonopodus, P. kilbyi, and P. rogersi ochlocknensis. Hoff's type specimens of E. hobbsi came from P. advena taken from burrows near Fitzgerald, Ben. Hill, County, GEorgia. "Other localities from which this form was secured were widely scattered in Florida and Georgia, except for a single collectbn (On P. lunzi) from Hampton Co., South Carolina." (Hoff, 1944: 356). Previously reported hosts are P. advena, P. luhzi, P. alleni, P. seminolae, P. barba- tus, P. blandingii acutus. P. hubbelli; P. kilbyi, P. leonensis, P. patnin- sulanus, P. pictus, and P. pubescens. " Entocythere talulus Hoff, 1944 (Figure 18) Although E. talulus was not collected in the Apalachicola River drainage area, it is found in Florida, and is therefore included here. It is known only from the type locality, a mirsh at N.W. 20th Street and 27th Avenue, Miami, Dade County, Florida. It was found on the crayfish, P. alleni. Columbia Gr6up DE:FINITIoN.-Terminal tooth of mandible with cusps. No finger guard.on copulatory complex. External b rder of clasping apparatus entire; internal border usually with more than one denticle present. Females without a "turned skirt." Entocythere equicuria Hoff; 1944 (Figure 14) Specimens of. Entocythere equicuria show considerable variation in the clasping apparatus, ranging from a single tooth on the inner margin of the horizontal ramus· to several teeth extending proximally toward its base. Although Hbff describes tbe proximal tooth of the clasping apparatus of this species as always being the, largest; I have 204 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 4 seen several specimens in which the distal tooth is the largat. Speci- mens of E. equicurva were collected in Jackson and Liberty counties, Florida; in Decatur, Seminole, and Early counties, Georgia; and in Houston County, Alabama. All of these localities are in the Apalachi- cola River drainage area. The crayfishes from which these specimens were taken are Pro- cambarus spiculifer, P. paeninsulanus, Cambarus d. diogenes, C. fodiens, and Cambarellus schmitti. The type specimens of this speciesf were taken from Procambarus paeninsulanus collected 2.8 miles sozith of Woodbine, Camden County, Georgia, on September 1, 1988. Hoff states that E. equicurva "has been. taken in ten collections from Florida and one from Alabama.·" , The. crayfishes from which it has previously been reported are P. Zeonensis, P. fallax, P. kilbyi, P. lucifugus alachua, P. paeninsulanus, and Orconectes *inosus. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS , This work was done in·connection with a systematic survey of the f[ora and fauna of the Apalachicola River drainage area in southeast- ern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. The survey was supported by the National Park Service and The National Science Foundation through the University. of Florida. The ostracods were obtained from crayfishes collected by' Dr. Horton Hobbs, Jr. and the author, and the erayfishes were identified by Dr. Hobbs. Special thanks are due to the Mountain Lake Biologjcal Sta- tion of the University of Virginia and to Dr. Ruth , Patrick of the Academy of Natural Sciences 6f Philadelphia for providing laboratory spaces in which to complete this study. The definitions of the several groups were made by Dr. Hobbs, who is preparing a manuscript on the entocytherid fauna of Mexico and Cuba. REFERENCES Hobbs, HOrton H., Jr. 1955. Ostracods of the genus Entocythere frbm the New River System in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Trans. Am. Microscopical Soc., 74(4): 825-883. Hobbs, Horton H., Jr., and C. W. Hart, Jr. 1959. The freshwater decapod crustaceans of the Apaladhicola Drainage Sys- tem in Florida, Southern Alabama and Georgia. Bull. Fla. State Mus., 4(5): 145«192. Hoff, C. C. 1944, New American species of the ostracod genus Entocythere. Am. Midl. Nat., 82(2): 827-357. Contributions to the BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM may be in any field of biology. 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