UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Heterocypris exodonta sp. nov. (Ostracoda, Cyprididae), morphological and molecular description of a high altitude asexual microcrustacean from the Nam Co region, Southern Tibetan Plateau

Identification

Public canonical key

radar:r-cdc09e82279cd3cee87e6fe135db007d

Authors

Mauricio Bonilla-Flores · Ivana Karanovic · Paula Gabriela Echeverría Galindo · Peter F. Frenzel · Liseth Pérez · Nicole Börner · Katharina Dulias · Junbo Wang · Antje Schwalb

Reported year

2025

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-13T12:49:10.248719+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-13T12:49:10.248719+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Technische Universität Braunschweig · Hanyang University · RWTH Aachen University · Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel · Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research

Reported affiliation countries

CN · DE · KR

Documentary abstract — original language

A new ostracod species, Heterocypris exodonta Bonilla-Flores & Karanovic, sp. nov. is described from a high-altitude temporary pond near Nam Co, Southern Tibetan Plateau. Detailed morphological analyses of valves, soft body, and the partial mitochondrial COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) sequence distinguish this species from its close congeners, Heterocypris incongruens and Heterocypris salina . Key taxonomic features include the morphology of the female genital lobe and the structure of the internal opening of normal pores, particularly variations in the female genital aperture at the intersection of the seminal duct and the oviduct. Pore openings in H. exodonta Bonilla-Flores & Karanovic, sp. nov. and H. incongruens exhibit a turbine shape, while in H. salina they display a simple aperture. Phylogenetic analysis based on the COI dataset supports the new species description and suggests potential synonymy and cryptic species within the H. salina and H. incongruens complexes. Ecologically, these species mainly inhabit temporary water bodies with high oxygen levels and likely follow an r-type ecological strategy, being opportunistic in colonizing new habitats, reproducing via parthenogenesis, and undergoing rapid population growth. This study enhances the understanding of Southern Tibetan Plateau ostracod biodiversity, providing crucial morphological and molecular data for species identification, particularly for parthenogenetic species lacking standard male morphological characters. Additionally, this research offers methods to prevent misidentifications and misinterpretations in (paleo-)ecological studies, contributing significantly to the broader knowledge of taxonomy and ecology of ostracods from the Southern Tibetan Plateau. Due to the high morphological plasticity of Heterocypris incongruens , our findings highlight the need for caution when identifying similar species, as external resemblance may conceal genetic divergence.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

https://openalex.org/W4417491404

DOI

10.3897/zookeys.1264.140174

PMID

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41458140

PMCID

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/12743249

Documentary context

Documentary family

article

Source-reported types

article

Publishers

Pensoft Publishers

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1

• Document · https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1264.140174

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.