WITTMANN, K. J., 1992: Morphogeographic variations in the genus Mesopodopsis Czerniavsky, with descriptions of three new species (Crustacea, Mysidacea). Hydrobiologia, 241: 71-89.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008261
Most of the exceptional morphological features of the genus Mesopodopsis are shared with Nanomysis, Diamysis, and Limnomysis in a mosaic-like pattern. This group, comprising euryhaline species from fresh-to metahaline waters, has its centre of recent species richness in the Mediterranean to Ponto-Caspian region.
Within the genus one may distinguish two morphogeographic groups, Euro-African species with a spine below the statocyst, and Indo-Australasian species without this spine. Detailed study from the entire distribution range indicates that M. slabberi (van Beneden) should be split into 4 species: the nominal form from the NE-Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, with 5-8 segments on the tarsus of the fourth thoracic endopod; M. aegyptia n.sp., widely distributed in the Mediterranean, with 7-9 segments on this tarsus as well as dimorphic setation patterns on the eighth tarsus; M. tropicalis n.sp. from equatorial W-Africa with 5-6 segments and dimorphic setation patterns on the mandibular palp; and M. wooldridgei n.sp. from South African waters with 9-12 segments on the tarsal joint of the fourth thoracic appendage, respectively.
A key to the seven known species of the genus is given.
new species; revision; morphology; distribution; taxonomy; biogeography; euryhaline species; key to species
Antromysis; Diamysis; Diamysis bahirensis; Limnomysis; Limnomysis benedeni; Mesopodopsis; Mesopodopsis aegyptia nov. spec.; Mesopodopsis slabberi; Mesopodopsis tropicalis nov. spec.; Mesopodopsis wooldridgei nov. spec.; Mysidium; Nanomysis; Neomysis; Paraleptomysis banyulensis; Paramesopodopsis; Paramysis; Paramysis helleri; Podopsis pontica; Podopsis slabberi; Schistomysis; Tasmanomysis