A Review of the Branchinecta (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) from the Baja California Peninsula: First Record of the Giant Fairy Shrimp B. Gigas from Mexico. Issue 3 (1st May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Obregón-Barboza, Hortencia; Murugan, Gopal; García-Velazco, Humberto; Maeda-Martínez, Alejandro M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of crustacean biology. Volume 35:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 433
• Page End: 440
• Publication Date: 2015-05-01
• Subjects: Anostraca -- Baja California (Norte) -- Baja California Sur -- distribution -- Laguna Chapala -- Laguna El Islote -- Sonoran Desert; Crustacea -- Periodicals; Crustacés -- Périodiques; Crustacea; Periodicals; 595.305
• DOI: 10.1163/1937240X-00002321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-0372

Abstract

Abstract: As a part of an ongoing research initiative on Sonoran Desert large branchiopod biodiversity, we conducted extensive field surveys along the Baja California Peninsula. We present here a taxonomic review of the genus Branchinecta on this peninsula. The results confirm the presence of B. lindahli Packard, 1883, B. mackini Dexter, 1956, and B. sandiegonensis Fugate, 1993, and provide the first Mexican records of the world's largest anostracan B. gigas Lynch, 1937 . The peninsular sites of the four Branchinecta represent the southernmost extent of their distribution. The giant fairy shrimp was discovered from two shallow temporary lakes located in the Valle de los Cirios. The large branchiopod species assemblage that occurs in these lakes is unique among the temporary wetlands of Mexico. These lakes, so far, are the only known habitats in Mexico where the tadpole shrimp Lepidurus lemmoni Holmes, 1894, and B. gigas occur.