First record of Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., 2014 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from India

the journal of biodiversity data NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 884 Academic editor: Sameer Padhye Received: 29 July 2025 Accepted: 23 September 2025 Published: 1 October 2025 Copyright © The authors. This is an open‑access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0) Abstract. The freshwater ostracod Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., 2014, was originally described from Ger‑ many, where it was considered an alien species. We report the first confirmed occurrence of T. alfonsi Nagler et al., 2014 in India, where it was found in a natural habitat, which indicates that India lies within its native geographic range. Key words. Cypricercinae, distribution, freshwater ostracod, Maharashtra, microcrustaceans Khairnar RR, Shinde YS (2025) First record of Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., 2014 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from India. Check List 21 (5): 884–889. https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 INTRODUCTION The subfamily Cypricercinae is one of the diverse subfamilies of the family Cyprididae, which belongs to the class Ostracoda (subphylum Crustacea), currently comprises 172 species worldwide (Meisch et al. 2024). This subfamily of ostracod has a distinct set of diagnostic characters for identification, which were revised by Savatenalinton and Martens (2009). The leading characteristic for identifying the subfamily is the presence and position of Triebel’s loop on the caudal ramus attachment. Currently, the genus Tanycypris Triebel, 1959 is classified within the tribe Nealecypridini (Savatenalinton and Martens 2009) and comprises six species—T. alfonsi Nagler, Geist & Matzke‑Karasz, 2014, T. centa Chang, Lee & Smith, 2012, T. eugenkempfi Savatenalinton, 2017, T. madagascarensis (Müller, 1898), T. gonia Smith & Ozawa, 2024, T. pellucida (Klie, 1932), T. siamensis Sa‑ vatenalinton & Martens, 2009—and one infraspecific taxon, Tanycypris pellucida var. saloica (Akatova, 1950); these are distributed across three zoogeographical regions: Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palaearctic (Meisch et al. 2024; Smith et al. 2024). Tanycypris alfonsi was discovered by Nagler et al. (2014) in the greenhouse of the botanical garden in Mu‑ nich, Germany. Since then, this species has been reported from only three locations, in South Korea (Smith et al. 2014), eastern China (Ma and Yu 2018), and Japan (Smith 2023). We report the first confirmed occurrence of T. alfonsi in India, where it was found in a natural habitat, which indicates that India lies within its native geographic range. METHODS Samples were collected from a pool near the Tapi River in the Jalgaon District of Maharashtra, India (21°05′17.9″N, 075°58′34.1″E). Samples were collected using a simple hand net with a mesh size of 150 µm, placed in 100 ml containers, and preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution. In the laboratory, the samples were rinsed under tap water and preserved in 70% alcohol. The specimens were isolated, their valves sep‑ arated, and dissection was performed using tungsten needles under a stereomicroscope (Magnus MS24). The separated valves were mounted on a stub for examination using a scanning electron microscope (JEOL Analytical Scanning Electron Microscope). The dissected soft parts were mounted in polyvinyl lactophenol and illustrated using a camera lucida attached to a Lawrence and Mayo LM‑52‑1802 microscope. These drawings were digitized using Inkscape v. 1.3.2. Images were processed using GIMP v. 3.0.4. A distribution map was created using QGIS v. 3.22.6 (QGIS 2022). The terminology used for soft‑part anatomy and chaetotaxy was derived from Broodbakker and Daniel‑ opol (1982), revised chaetotaxy for A2 by Martens (1987) and Meisch (2000). The specimens were deposited 21 (5) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 21 (5): 884–889 First record of Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., 2014 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from India Renuka Rajendra Khairnar1, Yugandhar Satish Shinde1 1 Aquatic Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, PES’s Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Shivajinagar, Pune-411005, India (Affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune-7) Corresponding author: Yugandhar S. Shinde (yugandh[email protected]om) Check List 21 (5) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 Khairnar and Shinde · First record of Tanycypris alfonsi from India 885 in the crustacean collection of the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune, under the accession numbers ZSI‑WRC C.2650, ZSI‑WRC C.2660. Abbreviations of valves and soft parts. RV = right valve; LV = left valve; limbs. A1 = first antenna; A2 = second antenna; Md = mandibula; Mxl = maxillula; Tl = first thoracopod; T2 = second thoracopod; T3 = third thoracopod; CR = caudal ramus; CRa = caudal ramus attachment. RESULTS Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler, Geist & Matzke-Karasz, 2014 Figure 1A–C New record. INDIA — Maharashtra • Jalgaon District, pool near Tapi river; 21°05′17.9″N, 075°58′34.1″E; 210m elevation; 0.5 m depth; 18.XI.2023; Renuka Khairnar leg.; 3♀, 70% alcohol, ZSI‑WRC C.2650 & ZSI‑WRC C.2660. Description. The carapace (Figure 1A–C) is 1280–1320 µm long, and 600–620 µm high. The carapace is yellow, and the eye is prominent. The surface of the valves bear sparsely distributed hairs and a roof‑tile‑like structure at the posterior end (Figure 1A). The carapace is elongate in the lateral view, thin in the dorsal view, and has the greatest width at the middle. The ends of the valves are rounded, the dorsal margin is straight, and the ventral margin is slightly concave in front of the middle. The LV and RV have broad inner lamellae at the anterior and posterior ends, without an inner list. A groove is present along the anteroventral margin in the LV (Figure 1B), whereas the RV lacks a groove (Figure 1B). The inner margins of both valves are rounded at the anterior end but slightly curved at the posteroventral end. A1 (Figure 2A) has a large, 7‑segmented first segment and bears a long dorso‑apical sensory Wouters organ, one short dorsal apical seta, and two long subapical ventral distal setae. The second segment has a long ventral Rome organ and a short dorsal seta. The third segment has one seta on each side, and the fourth segment has two long dorso‑apical and one short ventral apical seta. The fifth segment has five setae (two long dorso‑apical, one long (medial), and two short ventral setae); one ventral seta reaches slightly beyond the next segment, and the second reaches almost the mid‑length of the next segment. The sixth segment has four long setae and one short thin seta that does not reach the distal end of the terminal segment. The seventh segment has two long setae, one sensory seta ya, and one short accompanying seta. Aesthetasc ya and the accompanying seta are almost of same length. A2 (Figure 2B): the first protopodal segment has three setae (one proximally, two more distally), and the second has one very long basal seta situated at the center. The exopod was reduced with three setae (one long and two short). The first endopodal segment bears the sensory aesthetasc Y, which consists of three distally located segments, one long hairy seta, and five long natatory setae, which reach the distal end of the claws, with one short accompanying seta. On the secondsegment dorsally, there are two and Figure 1. Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., (2014). A. Lateral view of carapace. B. Left valve internal view. C. Right internal view. Scale bars: 200 µm. Check List 21 (5) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 Khairnar and Shinde · First record of Tanycypris alfonsi from India 886 on ventrally, four unequally long t‑setae (t1–t4). At the distal end of the same segment, three serrated claws G1–G3 (with G2 smaller than the others), three long z‑setae (z1–z3), and a small y2 reaching almost the distal end of the terminal segment are present. The terminal segment bears claw GM and Gm, aesthetasc y3, and seta g. The g is longer than y3. Md‑coxa (Figure 2C): as shown in the figure. Md‑palp (Figure 2D): 4‑segmented. The first segment was broad, bearing two long, setulated s1 and s2 setae and one short, thin, alpha (α) seta. The second segment has three types of setae on the ventral side: one short, conical, densely hairy beta (β) seta; one medium‑length hairy seta; and three long, slim setae on the ventral side. Dorsally, it bears three setae of different lengths (two long reaching beyond the claws of the terminal segment and one short). The third segment has four dorso‑subapical setae (two long and two short). Vetro‑distally, one long and one short seta. At the distal end of the same segment, three long setae, including one hairy gamma (γ) seta, were present, which was twice the length of the terminal segment. The terminal segment bears three claws and three setae. Mxl (Figure 2E): palp 2‑segmented. The basal segment bears one medial seta (reaching beyond the mid‑length of the next segment), one subapical seta, and five apical setae of different lengths that extend‑ ed beyond the distal end of the terminal segment. The terminal segment is elongate and bears three claws and three setae. The third endite bears one strongly serrated and another slightly serrated “Zahnborsten” (tooth bristles). T1 (Figure 3A): the protopodite has two a‑setae, one b and d seta, at the distal end of the segment; 14 setae are present, all of which are hairy distally. The endopodite bears three setae of unequal length. T2 (Figure 3B): the basal segment bears d1 and d2 (with d1 longer than d2). The first segment bears e Figure 2. Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., (2014). A. First antenna. B. Second antenna. C. Detail of last segment of second antenna. D. Mandibular coxa. E. Mandibular palp. F. Terminal segment of Mandibular palp. G. Maxillula. Scale bars: A–C, E–G = 50 µm; D = 100 µm. Check List 21 (5) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 Khairnar and Shinde · First record of Tanycypris alfonsi from India 887 setae, and the second segment is markedly separated, bearing a middle f seta and distal g seta. The fourth segment was short, bearing seta h1 and h3 (of almost equal size), and a long, curved claw serrated at the distal end. T3 (Figure 3C, D): the basal segment bears long d1, d2, and dp setae (with d2 longer than d1). The first segment has a long e seta. The second segment medially bears f setae (reaching the distal end of the termi‑ nal segment). The terminal segment bears an apical pincer h2, a short h1 seta, and a subapical h3 seta. The CR (Figure 3E) was symmetrical with strongly serrated Ga and Gp claws. The Sa seta is smooth and extends beyond the mid‑length of the claw Ga. Seta Sa is longer than claw Gp. Sp seta is short and slightly serrated. The ventral margin is serrated along almost its entire length. CR attachment (Figure 3F): the tribbles loop is at the middle, the dorsal branch is thin, elongate, and bent at the distal end, and the ventral branch is wide, stubby, and rounded. Taxonomic remarks. Our Indian specimens resemble T. alfonsi as originally described, but they also show significant morphological differences in the shape of the carapace, A1, and CR. The intersection of postero‑dorsal margin in German specimens is slightly depressed while in Indian specimens this margin is smoothly curved. Even the shape of the inner margin is different in both populations. In the original description of the species (Nagler et al. 2014), the Wouters organ was noted as being relatively small and inconspicuous. In contrast, our Indian specimens have a markedly elongate Wouters organ, approximately the same length as the Rome organ. Additionally, the dorsal seta of our specimens is considerably longer. It arises proximally at the base of the Wouters organ, in contrast to the original description in which this seta is short and subapical. Furthermore, the Sp seta on the CR in German specimens is slender and smooth, whereas in Indian and Chinese specimens (Ma and Yu 2018), it has a broader base and a brush‑like distal end. DISCUSSION The genus Tanycypris is known from three zoogeographical regions. Tanycypris alfonsi was originally de‑ scribed from Germany, where it is considered an alien species (Nagler et al. 2014), and it has since been reported from small bodies of water bodies on Jeju Island, South Korea (Smith et al. 2014), in eastern China (Ma and Yu 2018), and in the Oriental part of the Nansei Islands, Japan (Smith 2023). Here, we report T. alfonsi for the first time from India, where it was found in a riverine ecosystem. This species was previously known Figure 3. Tanycypris alfonsi Nagler et al., (2014). A. First thoracopod. B. Second thoracopod. C. Third thoracopod. D. Pincer organ. E. Caudal ramus. F. Caudal ramus attachment. Scale bars: A–C, E, F = 100 µm; D = 50 µm. Check List 21 (5) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 Khairnar and Shinde · First record of Tanycypris alfonsi from India 888 only from regions north of the Tropic of Cancer; however, the new record from India is the first from south of this latitude (Figure 4). We hypothesise that T. alfonsi is possibly an East Asian species which has been introduced to Germany, or that the Indian population (our record identified as T. alfonsi) may represent a distinct, undescribed spe‑ cies. Genetic analysis of these populations would solve the taxonomic uncertainty. Until molecular data are available, we provisionally refer to the Indian specimens as T. alfonsi. Until now, of the genus Tanycypris, only T. pellucida has been reported from India (Harshey and Shrivastav 1983). A report of T. pellucida by Shinde (2012) was re‑examined and its identification is corrected here as T. alfonsi. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We express our sincere gratitude to the Principal of Modern College, Pune‑5, for providing the facilities for this research. We are also thankful to the Head, Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, for providing access to the SEM facility. YSS is thankful to the authorities of PES’s Modern College, Pune‑5 for fi‑ nancial assistance (SEED money 2023–2024). RRK gratefully acknowledges the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) for granting permission to collect samples (MSBB/DESK 5/1194 2022–23) and is grateful to the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research Fellowship for financial support for research work. We sincerely thank the reviewers and academic editor for their valuable comments and suggestions, which improved the quality of this manuscript. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Conflict of interest The authors declare that no competing interests exist. Ethical statement No ethical statement is reported. Funding This study was financially supported by Modern College, Pune‑5 (SEED money 2023‑2024). Author contributions Conceptualization: RRK, YSS. Investigation: RRK, YSS. Methodology: RRK, YSS. Resources: YSS. Supervision: YSS, Visualization: RRK. Writing – original draft: RRK, YSS. Writing – review and editing: RRK, YSS. Author ORCID iDs Renuka R. Khairnar https://orcid.org/0000‑0003‑2283‑4922 Yugandhar S. Shinde https://orcid.org/0000‑0001‑6248‑3712 Figure 4. Distribution map of T. alfonsi Nagler et al., 2014. Check List 21 (5) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.884 Khairnar and Shinde · First record of Tanycypris alfonsi from India 889 Data availability All data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text. REFERENCES Broodbakker NW, Danielopol DL (1982) The chaetotaxy of Cypridacea (Crustacea, Ostracoda) limbs: proposals for a descriptive model. 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