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Issue: Vol. 5837 No. 1: 22 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-22
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5837.1.1
Page range: 1-34
Abstract views: 139
PDF downloaded: 6

Neotropical species of Elpidium F. Müller, 1880 (Crustacea: Ostracoda) introduced into New Caledonia (Melanesia, Pacific Ocean) through ornamental bromeliad trade

Itt Oceaneon; Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos); C11 950; Avenida Unisinos; Campus São Leopoldo; Cristo Rei; CEP 93020-190; São Leopoldo; RS; Brazil
Instituto de Geociências; Laboratório de Micropaleontologia; Universidade de Brasília (UnB); ICC-Ala Central; Subsolo ASS339/10; Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro; Asa Norte; CEP 70910-900; Brasília; DF; Brazil
Department of Biology; Morgan State University; 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane; Baltimore; MD; USA 21254
Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); CEP 90650-001; Porto Alegre; RS; Brazil
Natural Environments; Freshwater Biology; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; Vautierstraat 29; B-1000 Brussels; Belgium; Dept. Biology; Ghent University; K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35; B-9000 Ghent; Belgium
Centre of Biological Sciences (CCB); Centre of Research in Limnology; Ichthyology and Aquaculture (Nupélia); Graduate Program in Ecology of Inland Water Ecosystems (PEA); State University of Maringá (UEM); Av. Colombo; 5790; CEP 87020-900; Maringá; PR; Brazil
Crustacea invasive species phytotelmata taxonomy Timiriaseviidae

Abstract

The ostracod genus Elpidium is known so far for South and Insular America and all of its 20 known species are confined to phytotelmata, mostly in tank-bromeliads. These plants, with more than 1200 species in the Atlantic Forest along the eastern shores of Brazil, can be either terrestrial or epiphytic, and occur along a vast altitudinal gradient. In recent decades, an international, even intercontinental, trade in ornamental bromeliads has expanded. These plants can be transported over large distances, and in some cases contain “passenger” taxa in their tanks, mostly insects and crustaceans. Here, we report on the discovery of two species of Elpidium from bromeliad phytotelmata in New Caledonia (Melanesia, Pacific Ocean). By coincidence, the same two species had also recently been collected from their presumed native area, one from Insular America (Dominican Republic and US Virgin Islands) and one from South America (Itapeva park in southern Brazil). These two species, Elpidium alarconi Mesquita-Joanes et al., 2025 and Elpidium itapevaense sp. nov., are here reported and (re-) described. Morphological comparisons with the populations from New Caledonia are provided.

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How to Cite

Pereira, J.D.S., Pinto, R.L., Cruz-Rivera, E., Cunha, M.E.B., Martens, K. & Higuti, J. (2026) Neotropical species of Elpidium F. Müller, 1880 (Crustacea: Ostracoda) introduced into New Caledonia (Melanesia, Pacific Ocean) through ornamental bromeliad trade. Zootaxa, 5837 (1), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5837.1.1