Ozestheria gemina Schwentner & Hethke, 2025, sp. nov.

Ozestheria gemina sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 13753FE1-0128-4CB7-A344-E4F776360B0A Fig. 20 Ozestheria sp. N1 – Schwentner et al. 2015a: figs 2, 6. Ozestheria cf. berneyi (N) – Schwentner et al. 2020: figs 1–2. Ozestheria sp. N – Hethke et al. 2023: fig. 11. Diagnosis Ozestheria gemina sp. nov. is characterized by a medium long condyle and rather narrow occipital notch; a rounded ventral carapace margin; carapace ornamentation with polygonal reticulations on larval valve and early growth bands, following growth bands with anastomosing lirae, which become more pronounced and regular in later growth bands, where lirae terminate before the concentric ridge, punctae between lirae; male rostrum anterior margin straight to weakly convex, apex pointed with acute angle (~45–60°, rarely close to 90°), ventral margin deeply concave with obtuse angle about half-length; female rostrum anterior margin straight to slightly convex (sometimes undulating), apex pointed (~45– 60°) and drawn out into acute tip, ventral margin weakly concave; 12–22 (males) or 13–18 (female) antenna I lobes reaching to antenna II flagellomeres VI–X (male) or III–VIII (female); 11–15 (male) or 11–15 (female) antenna II flagellomeres; 23–25 complete thorax segments; 14–24 telsonic spines, spines mostly small, conical and subequal in size and spacing, 2–3 (up to 5) larger spines interspersed; 5–15 furcal setae. Differential diagnosis Ozestheria gemina sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from most other Australian species of Ozestheria by the combination of its carapace shape and ornamentation (combination of reticulations and lirae), the pointed male rostrum apex and the telsonic spination (many small spines with 2–5 larger spines interspersed). Morphologically most similar are O. fuersichi sp. nov. and O. berneyi. Ozestheria berneyi has a shorter condyle and the carapace ornamentation has polygonal reticulations dorsally within growth bands. Ozestheria fuersichi is smaller (carapace length 3.7–5.1 mm), has a nearly straight ventral carapace margin, carapace ornamentation with more widely spaced, nodular lirae, and the female rostrum has a concave anterior margin. Etymology The species name derives from the Latin word ‘ geminus ’ (‘the twin’), referring to its similarity to its sister species O. berneyi. Type material Holotype AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Yapunyah pool 36 km N of highway; 27°49′09.6″ S, 144°09′26.5″ E; 28 Feb. 2011; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; GenBank no: KJ705433 (COI); AM P.91204. Paratypes AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; GenBank nos: KJ705435, KJ705436 (COI); AM P.91206 to P.91207 • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; GenBank no: KJ705435 (COI); NHMW-ZOO-CR-28475. Other material examined AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Yarromere Station, Morra Creek (M1); 21°28′51.9″ S, 145°49′34.0″ E; 3 Apr. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91250 • 1 ♂; roadside claypan; 29°31′42.5″ S, 146°12′20.5″ E; 21 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91232 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; grassy turbid swamp; 27°41′52.4″ S, 146°45′44.7″ E; 18 Feb. 2010; M. Schwentner, C. Sieves and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91257, P.91258 • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Cyclestheria grassy swamp; 27°40′48.8″ S, 146°38′02.7″ E; 18 Feb. 2010; M. Schwentner, C. Sieves and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91225, P.91226, P.91251, P.91252 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; dugout 21 km E of Thargomindah; 28°02′05.2″ S, 144°03′15.7″ E; 27 Feb. 2011; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91208 to P.91210. – New South Wales • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bloodwood Station, Upper Crescent Pool; 29°32′33.6″ S, 144°52′16.5″ E; 30 Mar. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91188, P.91189 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bloodwood Station, Lower Crescent Pool; 29°32′34.5″ S, 144°51′31.6″ E; 19 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91233 to P.91235 • 2 ♀♀; Gidgee Lake; 29°33′10.4″ S, 144°50′12.7″ E; 19 Feb. 2010; M. Schwentner, C. Sieves and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91227, P.91228 • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; cane grass swamp SE of Woolshed; 29°31′35.3″ S, 144°51′39.2″ E; 21 Feb. 2011; M. Schwentner, S. Richter and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91221 to P.91224 • 2 ♀♀; Bloodwood Station, Vosper Pool; 29°32′03.9″ S, 144°50′37.7″ E; 19 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91246, P.91247 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Muella Station, Muella Vegetated Pool 3; 29°30′12.0″ S, 144°55′37.4″ E; 31 Mar. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91190, P.91191 • 1 ♀; Muella Station, Muella Vegetated Pool 4; 29°30′00.7″ S, 144°54′59.6″ E; 31 Mar. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91186 • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Muella Station, Upper Lake Eliza; 29°25′46.0″ S, 145°04′12.6″ E; 31 Mar. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91187, P.91229 to P.91231 • 2 ♂♂; Muella Station, Lismore Bore; 29°31′50.7″ S, 144°59′28.1″ E; 19 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91239, P.91240 • 1 ♂; Yungerina black box swamp; 29°26′09.1″ S, 145°04′40.3″ E; 20 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.82534 • 4 ♀♀; Yantabulla black box swamp; 29°20′17.8″ S, 145°00′09.7″ E; 20 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91242 to P.91245 • 1 ♂; Mitchell Highway 152 km from Bourke; 31°11′45.0″ S, 146°51′31.4″ E; 18 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.81401 • 1 ♂; Mitchell Highway, 40 km N of Nyugen; 31°11′45,9″ S, 146°51′30,1″ E; 1999; S. Richter and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91208 • 1 ♂; claypan-like W of Engonia; 29°18′32.8″ S, 145°44′06.9″ E; 21 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91241 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; pool S of Gerara; 29°13′51.4″ S, 146°18′22.6″ E; 21 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.82577, P.82578 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; excavated area W of Yarrabundai; 33°07′28.5″ S, 147°32′09.8″ E; 23 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91236, P.91237 • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; thoura poplar box swamp; 29°16′11.2″ S, 144°40′25.3″ E; 24 Feb. 2011; M. Schwentner, S. Richter and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91211 to P.91215. Additional material (not examined) AUSTRALIA – New South Wales • 5 juvs; Muella Station, Lower Lake Eliza; 29°25′28.9″ S, 145°03′41.8″ E; 22 Feb. 2011; M. Schwentner, S. Richter and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91216 to P.91220 • 1 juv.; Muella Station, Carrols Bore; 29°29′08.7″ S, 144°59′13.0″ E; 31 Mar. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.P.80859 • 1 ♀; Yantabulla black box swamp; 29°20′17.8″ S, 145°00′09.7″ E; 20 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91203 • 1 ♂; Bloodwood Station, Lower Crescent Pool; 29°32′34.5″ S, 144°51′31.6″ E; 19 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91248 • 1 ♀; Bloodwood Station, Gidgee Lake; 29°33′10.4″ S, 144°50′12.7″ E; 19 Feb. 2010; M. Schwentner, C. Sieves and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91196 • 2 ♀♀; Bloodwood Station, Freshwater Lake; 29°29′14.7″ S, 144°49′59.0″ E; 19 Feb. 2010; M. Schwentner, C. Sieves and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91201, P.91202 • 2 juvs; Bloodwood Station, western fence N of Titanic; 29°24′58.4″ S, 144°46′52.8″ E; Mar. 2006; B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91183, P.91184 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 juv.; Tiltargara; 31°51′09.9″ S, 144° 52′22.4″ E; 22 Jan. 2010; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; raised from sediment; AM P.91238, P.91197 to P.91199. – Queensland • 1 juv.; Rockwell Station, Busters black box swamp, Blue Lakes; 28°47′53.9″ S, 145°00′58.5″ E; 31 Mar. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91185 • 1 juv.; Yarromere Station, Morra Creek (M1); 21°28′51.9″ S, 145°49′34.0″ E; 3Apr. 2009; M. Schwentner and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91192 • 1 ♀; Cyclestheria grassy swamp; 27°40′48.8″ S, 146°38′02.7″ E; 18 Feb. 2010; M. Schwentner, C. Sieves and B.V. Timms leg.; AM P.91195. Type locality Australia, Queensland, Yapunyah pool 36 km N of Highway, 27°49′09.6″ S, 144°09′26.5″ E. Description Males CARAPACE (Fig. 20a, c–d). Length 4.6–7.5 mm (HT: 4.6 mm, mean: 6.1 mm), height 2.6–4.7 mm (HT: 2.6 mm, mean: 3.8 mm). Coloration varying from yellowish to yellow-orange, red-orange and light brown; outer margin lighter. 15–52 (HT: 22, mean: 25) growth lines, 15–24 (HT: 17, mean: 18) widely spaced and 0–34 (HT: 5, mean: 7) crowded. CARAPACE SHAPE. Dorsal margin straight, distinct or rounded dorso-posterior corner. Posterior margin broadly rounded, suboval (more circular than in many other species), supra- to equicurvate (b/H 0.43– 0.48; HT: 0.48, mean: 0.46). Ventral margin broadly rounded. Umbo position anterior (Cr/L 0.20–0.25; HT: 0.20, mean: 0.21). CARAPACE ORNAMENTATION (Fig. 20e–g, i). Larval valve and first few growth bands with shallow, inconspicuous reticulations (poorly visible in many specimens, may appear granular) forming mainly irregular pentagons or hexagons. Reticulations gradually replaced by lirae in first few growth bands. Lirae subparallel, strongly anastomosing or branching, becoming more pronounced and regular on growth bands of later ontogenetic stages, where they terminate before the concentric ridge (only seen in SEM). Lirae can be inconspicuous, especially on lighter colored carapaces. Under SEM, fine punctae visible between lirae in early ontogenetic stages, which are irregular to absent in later ontogenetic stages. Crowded growth bands with pronounced, parallel lirae, anteriorly nodular and intermittent (visible predominately under SEM). Concentric ridges raised; under SEM smooth in early ontogenetic stages and with nodules at the upper margin in moniliform row in later ontogenetic stages. Spiniform as well as filiform setae present (mainly preserved on outer concentric ridges), usually ~5 spiniform setae between two filiform ones; setal pores in single row along all growth lines. HEAD (Fig. 20j). Condyle medium long, distally rounded; occipital notch spacing intermediate between narrow and wide. Condyle lacking anterobasal hump. Margin between condyle and ocular tubercle straight to strongly concave (HT: weakly concave). Ocular tubercle weakly developed, forming obtuse angle (ranging from nearly straight to nearly rectangular; HT: nearly rectangular;) with rostrum. Anterior margin of rostrum straight to weakly convex. Apex pointed, acute (~