Abstract
Five new species of the ostracod genus Gomphocythere are described from Lake Nyassa/ Malawi (East Africa). The morphology of the hemipenis in this genus is redescribed and the different parts are homologised with those of the Limnocytherinae and of other Timiraseviinae. The female abdominal structures are re-examined and a new terminology is proposed. Based on both valve and soft part morphology, the five new species are assumed to belong to a monophyletic cluster, which to all probability evolved within the lake itself. Indications for speciation by both natural and sexual selection are found. Natural selection could have been parapatric along a bathymetric cline; sexual selection involves at least characters related to the copulatory complex of the hemipenis. Closest congeners to the present species flock are the non-Tanganyikan, East African species, rather than those belonging to the southern African G. capensis complex.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Colin, J. P. & D. L. Danielopol, 1978. New data on the systematics of the Limnocytheridae (Ostracoda: Cytheracea). Géobios 11: 563–567.
Colin, J. P. & D. L. Danielopol, 1980. Sur la morphologie, la systématique, la biogéographie et l'évolution des ostracodes Timiriaseviinae (Limnocytheridae). Paléobiol. Cont. 11: 1–51.
Daday, von, E., 1910. Untersuchungen über die Süsswasser-Mikrofauna Deutsch-Ostafrikas. Zoologica 23: 1–314.
Ducasse, O. & P. Carbonel, 1993. Tanganyikacythere nov.gen. (Cytherideinae, Ostracoda) du Lac Tanganyika: systématique des valves, données écologiques. Géobios 26: 427–447.
Ducasse, O. & P. Carbonel, 1994. Cytherideinae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) Récents du Lac Tanganyika. Archeocyprideis tuberculata n.gen. n.sp.: Systématique, distribution, écologie. Rev. Micropaléont. 37: 97–112.
Frogley, M. R., H. I. Griffiths & K. Martens, 2002. Fossil and Modern Ostracoda from Ancient Lakes. In: Holmes J. A. & A. Chivas (eds), The Ostracoda: Applications in Quaternary Research. American Geophysical Union, Washington D.C: 167–184.
Fryer, G., 1957. Free living freshwater Crustacea from Lake Nyasa and adjoining waters. Part III General remarks with notes on certain Malacostraca and Ostracoda. Arch. f. Hydrobiol. 53: 527–536.
Horne, D. J., A. Cohen & K. Martens, 2002. Biology, Taxonomy and Identification Techniques. In: Chivas, A. & J. Holmes (eds), The Ostracoda: Applications in Quaternary Research. Kluwer Acad. Publ., Geophysical Monograph Series.
Klie, W., 1939. Ostracoden aus dem Kenia-Gebiet, vornehmlich von dessen Hochgebirgen. Int. Rev. ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogeogr. 39: 99–161.
Klie, W., 1944. Ostracoda. Explor. Parc. natn. Albert, Inst. Parc. Natn. Congo Belg. 12: 1–62.
Lowndes, A. G., 1932. Report on the Ostracoda. Mr Omer-Cooper's Investigation of the Abyssinian Fresh Waters (Dr. Hugh Scott's Expedition). Proc. Zool. Soc., Lond. (1932): 677–708.
Martens, K., 1990. Revision of African Limnocythere s.s. Brady, 1867 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) with special reference to the Eastern Rift Valley Lakes: morphology, taxonomy, evolution and (palaeo) ecology. Arch. Hydrobiol., Ergebn. Limnol. 83: 453–524.
Martens, K., 1993. On the taxonomy and zoogeography of the genus Gomphocythere Sars, 1924 (Crustacea, Ostracoda), with the description of a new species from the Nahal Dan (Israel). Belg. J. Zool. 123: 39–54.
Martens, K., 1994. Ostracod speciation in ancient lakes: a review. In Martens K., B. Goddeeris & G. Coulter (eds), Speciation in Ancient Lakes. Adv. Limnol. 44: 203–222.
Martens, K., 1995. On the validity and the taxonomic position of the Cytheridellini (Crustacea, Ostracoda, Limnocytheridae). Mitt. Hamb. Zool. Mus. Inst. 92: 273–280.
Martens, K.. 1997. Review: Speciation in Ancient Lakes. Trends Ecol. Evol. 12: 177–182.
Martens, K., G. Coulter & B. Goddeeris, 1994. Speciation in Ancient Lakes – 40 years after J.L. Brooks. In Martens K., B. Goddeeris & G. Coulter (eds), Speciation in Ancient Lakes. Adv. Limnol 44: 75–96.
Martens, K., B. R. Davies, A. J. Baxter & M. E. Meadows, 1996. Taxonomy and ecology of the Ostracoda (Crustacea) from the Verlorenvlei (Southwestern Cape, RSA). S. afr. J. Zool. 31: 23– 36.
Martens, K. & I. Schön, 1999. Crustacean biodiversity in ancient lakes: a review. In Danielopol, D. L. & K. Martens (eds), Crustacean Biodiversity in Subterranean, Ancient/Deep Lakes and Deep-Sea Habitats. Crustaceana 72: 899–910.
Mazepova, G. F., 1990: Rakyschkovye ratschki (Ostracoda) Baikala. Nauk. Sib. Otdel. Akad. Nauk. SSSR, Novosibirsk. 470 pp.
Park, L. E. & K. Martens, 2001. Four new species of Gomphocythere (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. Hydrobiologia 450: 129–147.
Park, L. E., K. Martens & A. S. Cohen, 2002. Phylogenetic relationships of Gomphocythere (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. J. crust. Biol.
Rome, Dom. R., 1962. Exploration hydrobiologique du Lac Tanganika (1946–1947). 3. Ostracodes. Res. sci. Expl. hydrobiol. Lac Tanganika 3: 1–309.
Rome, Dom. R., 1970. Quelques ostracodes d'Ethiopie. Bull. I.F.A.N. 32:, Sér. A: 83–99.
Rome, Dom. R. & P. De Deckker, 1977. Ostracodes dy Lac Kivu. Mém. Inst. Géol. Univ. Louvain 29: 241–287.
Sars, G. O., 1910. Zoological results of the 3rd Tanganyika expedition (1904–1905). Report on Ostracoda. Proc. zool. Soc., Lond. 48: 732–760.
Sars, G. O., 1924. The freshwater Entomostraca of the Cape Province (Union of South Africa). Ostracoda. Ann. s. afr. Mus. 20: 2–20.
Schön, I., E. Verheyen & K. Martens, 2001. Speciation in ancient lake ostracods: comparative analysis of Baikalian Cytherissa and Tanganyikan Cyprideis. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 27: 2674–2677.
Sherbakov, D. Y., R. M. Kamaltynov, O. B. Ogarkov & E. Verheyen, 1998. Patterns of Evolutionary change in Baikalian Gammarids inferred from DNA sequences (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Mol. Phyl. Evol. 10: 160–167.
Wouters, K., 1979. Kavalacythereis braconensis gen.n. sp.n., a remarkable new cytheracean ostracod genus and species from Lake Tanganyika (Zaire). Ann. Soc. R. Zool. Belg. 108: 179–187.
Wouters, K., 1988a. On Romecytheridea tenuisculpta (Rome). Stereo-Atlas Ostracod Shells. 15: 97–100.
Wouters, K., 1988b. On Romecytheridea ampla Wouters sp.nov. Stereo-Atlas Ostracod Shells 15: 101–106.
Wouters, K. & K. Martens, 1992. Contribution to the knowledge of Tanganyikan cytheraceans, with the description of Mesocyprideis nom.nov. (Crustacea, Ostracoda). Bull. K. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet., Biol. 62: 159–166.
Wouters, K. & K. Martens, 1994.Contribution to the knowledge of the Cyprideis species flock (Crustacea: Ostracoda) of Lake Tanganyika, with the description of three new species. Bull. K. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet., Biol. 64: 111–128.
Wouters, K. & K. Martens, 1999. Four new species of the Cyprideis species flock (Crustacea: Ostracoda) of Lake Tanganyika.). Bull. K. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet., Biol. 69: 67–82.
Wouters, K. & K. Martens, 2001. On the Cyprideis species flock (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in Lake Tanganyika, with the description of four new species. Hydrobiologia 450: 111–127
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martens, K. On the evolution of Gomphocythere (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in Lake Nyassa/ Malawi (East Africa), with the description of 5 new species. Hydrobiologia 497, 121–144 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025417822555
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025417822555