A new species of Salentinella Ruffo, 1947 from a thermo-mineral cave in southern Spain, with comments on the systematic position of the family Salentinellidae (Amphipoda)

Abstract

Abstract A new species of the stygobiont amphipod genus SalentinellaRuffo, 1947 is described from a thermo-mineral cave of Granada, southern Spain. Detailed observation of the appendages of the new species and of fresh specimens of S. angelieriDelamare-Deboutteville & Ruffo, 1952, and their comparison with the descriptions of other members of the family, have revealed that a simple callynophore is present on the antennule in both sexes of salentinellids. Furthermore, salentinellids have resulted to show a non-senticaudatan (i.e., lack of apical spines on rami) condition of uropods I and II. Both features question the current placement of the family within the senticaudatan parvorder Bogidiellidira. An identification key to all known members of the family Salentinellidae is provided.