Limnetica 38

Moina micrura Kurz, 1875 (Anomopoda: Moinidae) belongs among the most poorly defined cladoceran species in the world. This species has been considered cosmopolitan and is widely used for laboratory experiments, ecotoxicology, physiology or as live food. Nevertheless, recent molecular analyses corroborated the idea that it is a diverse complex of closely related species. Persisting systematic problems with M. micrura stem from the fact that it has not been redescribed in detail, and its type material as well as the type locality are lost. With this study, we try to provide a redescription, using morphology of females, males and ephippial females and the DNA barcodes for M. micrura s. str. from the pond situated not far from its original type locality in the Czech Republic. Firstly, we sequenced mitochondrial genes for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the 12S rDNA to establish the identity of M. micrura s. str. After this analysis, we compared the genetic data with all available sequences across the world. The species seems restricted to the Western Palearctic, with the most easterly located genetically confirmed records from Kazakhstan and Israel. The closest related lineage to M. micrura s. str. was found in Spain and needs a thorough analysis to establish its systematic status. M. micrura s. str. has unique features in the posterior spinulation of the valves of the parthenogenetic female, and the ornamentation of the ephippium. In the male, spinules on the tip of the antennule and the hook on the first thoracopod are also unique. With this description, we hope to inspire specialists to start uncovering the diversity of this complex, to understand its biogeography and diversity, as well as the real range of M. micrura s. str.