First finding of Lepidurus couesii Packard, 1875 (Crustacea, Triopidae) in Serbia – A record based on development of diagnostic body characters in males and females

Abstract

Lepidurus couesii Pa c k a r d, 1875, a new large branchiopod species for Serbian fauna was reported. Speci-mens of both sexes were collected on the periphery of the city of Belgrade in northern Serbia, in the flooded area of the Sava River. The finding is based on the analysis of mature individuals of both sexes. The evidence of new taxon has derived from a level of development of the main body parts which are considered as diagnostic for this species. Present results will expand the knowledge of distribution of this species in Europe to the area of Western Balkans. Since the bisexual population is recognized as highly female-biased, there is a need for further detailed information about the mode of reproduction in Serbian population of L. couesii.