Potamonautes isimangaliso explained

Potamonautes isimangaliso is a species of freshwater crustacean in the family Potamonautidae. It is endemic to iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa. Its natural habitat are the ephemeral wetlands fringing the western shores of False Bay. Molecular DNA analyses were required to distinguish it from the similar and rather variable P. lividus, which occurs further inland.^[1]

Description

It most closely resembles P. lividus but its mtDNA differs from the former by between 7.4 and 7.8%. It is further distinguished by its unique suite of carapace characters, besides its colouration and size.^[2]

Habitat

It occurs in oxygen-poor, fresh ephemeral pans.^{[2] [3]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: iSimangaliso – the place of miracles and wonders continues to amaze . iSimangaliso Newsflash . 24 Sep 2014 . isimangaliso.com. 20 July 2015.
2. Peer . Nasreen . Perissinotto . Renzo . Gouws . Gavin . Miranda . Nelson A.F. . Description of a new species of Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838, from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa . ZooKeys . 11 May 2015 . 503 . 23–43 . 10.3897/zookeys.503.9532 . 20 July 2015 . 26019669 . 4440270. free .
3. Web site: Potamonautes isimangaliso . DNA Barcoding . 14 May 2015 . 20 July 2015.