Relict populations of Diaphanosoma (Cladocera: Ctenopoda) in the Chadian Sahara, with the description of a new species

Scientists have discovered two species of Diaphanosoma, the first ctenopods recorded in the Sahara desert. One species, D. excisum, found in a freshwater guelta on the Tibesti mountains, is tropical and considered a relict from Megachad times. The other, a newly described species (D. bopingi), inhabits a saline lake on the Ounianga plateau and is more salt-tolerant, suggesting it is a relict of cooler, more humid periods in the desert's history. This study highlights the unique biodiversity and evolutionary significance of these relict populations, providing insights into past environmental conditions in the Sahara.

GUO, F.-F., & DUMONT, H. J. (2014). Relict populations of Diaphanosoma (Cladocera: Ctenopoda) in the Chadian Sahara, with the description of a new species . Zootaxa, 3856(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3856.1.6