On the crustaceans of shallow waters and springs of Stara Planina Mountains in Serbia

Abstract

Lack of knowledge on taxonomy and biogeography of crustacean fauna in small waters and springs of the Stara Planina Mountains denoted this region as “blank area” in Limno Fauna Europaea. Up to now, this is the only attempt to summarize data on the crustacean diversity of shallow-waters, including small pools and springs of this territory. During our investigations the appearance of four classes (Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, Copepoda and Malacostraca) was noted. In this work to the presence of the ostracods and non-cladoceran branchiopods was checked. The appearance of two branchiopods (Branchipus schaefferi Schaeffer, 1766 and Leptestheria sp. Sars, 1898) and four ostracods (Heterocypris incongruens (Ramd., 1808), Notodromas monacha (O. F. Müler, 1776), Potamocypris variegata (Br. et Norm. 1889 and Cyclocypris ovum Jurine, 1820) were noted. P. variegata was rediscovered after more than 40 years in Serbia and Montenegro.