Journal Article

Breviconia acuminata sp. nov. , including some phylogenetic remarks

Nierste, Jan Christoph, George, Kai Horst, Veit-Köhler, Gritta

2026

Overview

Meiofauna samples were collected using the multicorer during three FS POLARSTERN research expeditions to the Southern Ocean between 2013 and 2019. The samples yielded, among other representatives of the CopepodaHarpacticoida, 11 individuals of a previously unknown species of the Ancorabolidae Sars. The six males and five females could be assigned to the genus Breviconia Conroy-Dalton & Huys, within which they form a separate species. Breviconia acuminata sp. nov. differs from the two already known species B. australis (George) from the Beagle Channel (Chile) and B. andrei Garlitska, George & Chertoprud from the Barents Sea (Russia) in the following autapomorphies: (i) the female antennule has only nine setae on the last segment instead of ten, (ii) the inner apical seta on P2enp2 is strongly shortened and only reaches half the length of the outer apical seta. In addition to the detailed description of the new species, a morphologically based comparison with the taxa Arthropsyllus Sars and Uptionyx Conroy-Dalton & Huys confirmed the monophyletic status of Breviconia. A key to the Breviconia species is also provided. Breviconia acuminata sp. nov. has a very limited distribution range. To date, it has only been found on the continental shelf at the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and on the continental slope in Bransfield Strait, at depths between 420 and 750 metres. The sediments at the stations where the new species was found were characterised by low bottom temperatures, a high silt and clay content (84-89%), and high pigment content, indicating a high food availability.

• Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
• Subject: Analysis / Distribution / Harpacticoids / Health aspects / Identification and classification / Morphology (Animals) / Phylogeny