Leydigiopsis pulchra Van Damme et Sinev, 2013

33. Leydigiopsis pulchra Van Damme et Sinev, 2013

Localities and specimens found: 50 – 4♀, 1♀ em, 2j; 51 – 4♀.

Distribution and ecology. This is a relatively rare species recently described from Thailand ( Van Damme & Sinev 2013). It is also known in India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, where it was listed in some sources as Leydigiopsis sp. or L. curvirostris Sars, 1901 before being described ( Sanoamuang 1998; Sharma & Sharma 2007, 2012, 2017; Maiphae et al. 2008; Tanaka & Ohtaka 2010; Kotov et al. 2013b; Sinev & Korovchinsky 2013; Van Damme & Sinev 2013; Sinev 2016).

Representatives of the genus Leydigiopsis are considered to be true benthic cladocerans (Kotov 2006). The lifestyle and ecology of L. pulchra are still poorly understood. The species was recorded in eutrophic habitats rich in living and dead organic matter: swamps, forest ponds and small lakes ( Sanoamuang 1998; Sinev & Korovchinsky 2013; Van Damme & Sinev 2013; Sinev 2016). We found it only in the samples from the root system of floating macrophytes (see Appendix 1).

Remarks. Van Damme & Sinev (2013) pointed out a possible hidden speciation within Asian populations of L. pulchra , which is reflected in the differences the authors found between individuals from Thailand and Vietnam.