Two new stygobiotic copepod species from the Tibesti area (Northern Chad) and a re-description of Pilocamptus schroederi (van Douwe, 1915)

A hydrobiological expedition to the Ounianga-Tibesti area of northern Chad uncovered two new stygobiotic copepod species, Haplocyclops henrii and Parastenocaris joi, alongside a re-description of Pilocamptus schroederi. These groundwater-dwelling crustaceans, previously unknown in this region, are part of a Tertiary-era fauna that once thrived across the Sahara. The discovery highlights the Tibesti area as a biodiversity hotspot and suggests these species may be relicts of Gondwanaland's ancient ecosystems. The study provides detailed morphological descriptions and ecological insights into these stygobiotic copepods, contributing to our understanding of subterranean life in desert environments.

BRANCELJ, A. (2015). Two new stygobiotic copepod species from the Tibesti area (Northern Chad) and a re-description of Pilocamptus schroederi (van Douwe, 1915). Zootaxa, 3994(4). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3994.4.3