Moina belli Gurney 1904
Creators: name: Neretina, Anna N.
name: Alonso, Miguel
name: Kotov, Alexey A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Branchiopoda
Diplostraca
Moinidae
Moina
Moina belli

description: Moina belli Gurney, 1904
(Figs. 1–10, 16A–B, 22A–B)
Moina belli Gurney, 1904: p. 299, plate XVIII, figs 3–4; Methuen 1911: p. 253 –254, plate I, fig. 1; Daday 1912: p. 92 –93, pl. V, figs. 1–7; Goulden 1968: p. 69–72, figs. 32a–b (from Gurney 1904), figs. 33a–c, 34a–d; Smirnov 1976: p. 205–206, figs. 185–186 (from Goulden 1968); Dumont et al. 1981: p. 169–172, fig. 4; Day et al. 1999: p. 102, figs. 4.8.m–o; Elías-Gutiérrez et al. 2019: p. 247.fig. 7c.
Moina belli var. salina.— Daday, 1912: p. 93–94, pl. V, figs. 8–13.
Moina lateralis Brehm, 1958: p. 78 –83, figs. 1–6.
Moina macrocopa.— Sars 1916: p. 320, pl. 35: 1, 1a, 1b.
Moina tonsurata Brehm, 1935: p. 148 –150, figs. 3–6.
Moina sp., cfr. wierzejskii. — Harding 1957: p. 66–67, figs. 7–9.
? Moina belli.— Stephanides 1936: p. 692–694, figs. 2a–c; Stephanides 1937: p. 163–164, figs. 1 a–d.
? Moina turkomanica Keiser, 1931: p. 366 –370, figs. 14–21; Jenkin 1934: p. 160, fig. 13c.
Etymology. This species was named in honor of Prof. Jeffrey Bell, the person who entrusted R. Gurney with the work with the South African crustacean collection.
Type locality. “A water well in the Kroonstad savanna, O. R.C.” (Gurney 1904), Free State, now Republic of South Africa. “This water-hole was a collection of surface-water, quite dry in ordinary weather but field up thundershowers” (Gurney 1904).
Type material. Lectotype and paralectotypes were selected by L. Forró and stored in the collection of Natural History Museum (London, United Kingdom), with the accession numbers NHM 1904.9.21.19, NHM 1904.9.21.20– 21 (Forró 1988).
Other material examined. The Republic of South Africa: 15 parthenogenetic females, 10 ephippial females and 10 males from an ephemeral pool (S 30.26542°, E 23.61208°), Northern Cape, coll. 29.05.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4401; 5 parthenogenetic females from an ephemeral pool (S 30.55053°, E 23.72699°), Northern Cape, coll. 29.05.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4402; 3 parthenogenetic females from an ephemeral pool, laboratory culture (S 30.2551°, E 21.8624°), Northern Cape, in 2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4403; 3 parthenogenetic females from an ephemeral pool, laboratory culture (S 30.53493°, E 24.58605°), Northern Cape, in 2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4404; 20 parthenogenetic females from Farm Dam (S 30.12799°, E 20.45987°), Northern Cape, coll. 25.02.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4405; many parthenogenetic females from an ephemeral pool (S 30.0498°, E 20.40308°), Northern Cape, coll. 24.02.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4406; many parthenogenetic females from an ephemeral pool (S 30.3724°, E 20.39652°), Northern Cape, coll. 24.02.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4410; many parthenogenetic females from a drying up river (or a stream) (S 30.34992°, E 20.39797°), Northern Cape, coll. 24.02.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4414; many parthenogenetic females, 20 ephippial females, 30 males from a drying up river (or a stream) (S 30.20848°, E 20.59237°), Northern Cape, coll. 25.02.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4415; 1 parthenogenetic female from an ephemeral pool, laboratory culture (S 28.24293°, E 24.58605°), Northern Cape, coll. 2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4417; many parthenogenetic females from a drying up river (or stream) (S 30.06785°, E 20.62342°), Northern Cape, coll. 18.02.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4420; many parthenogenetic females from an ephemeral pool, laboratory culture (S 28.8252°, E 23.66193°), Northern Cape, in 2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4423; 30 parthenogenetic females, 20 ephippial females and 20 males from an ephemeral pool (S 29.8841°, E 24.06172°), Northern Cape, coll. in 2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4427; 40 parthenogenetic females from Farm Dam (S 30.1397°, E 20.93304°), Northern Cape, coll. 25.02.2018 B. Milne, AAK M-4430; many parthenogenetic females, many males, many ephippial females from an ephemeral pool (S 26.7582°, E 20.17353°), Northern Cape, coll. 15.03.2018 by B. Milne, AAK M-4432; many parthenogenetic females, many ephippial females, many males from Illovo Beach Rainpool (S 30.1075°, E 30.84945°), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, coll. 22.10.1994 by K. Martens, Hamer & Coke, NNS 2002-096; over 40 parthenogenetic females, 20 ephippial females, 20 males from Kangela Farm (S 28.3670°, E 32.1933°), Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, coll. 25.10.1994 by K. Martens, Hamer & Coke, NNS 2002-102; 20 parthenogenetic females, 10 ephippial females, 10 males from Mseleni River Pool (S 27.3633°, E 32.52639°), KwaZulu-Natal, coll. 27.10.1994 by K. Martens, Hamer & Coke, NNS 2002-103; over 40 parthenogenetic females, 20 ephippial females, 20 males from the pool 1 Rd Graaff Reinet-Murraysburg (S 32.2142°, E 24.49694°), Karoo, Eastern Cape, coll. 06.04.1993 by K. Martens, NNS 2002-144; many parthenogenetic females, many ephippial females, many males from the pan 1 Rd Middelburg-Hofmeyer R32, (S 31.6917°, E 25.49306°), Karoo, Eastern Cape, coll. 07.04.1993 by K. Martens, NNS 2002-148; over 50 parthenogenetic females, 30 ephippial females, 20 males from the Golf Course Pool 1, Grahamstown (S 33.2917°, E 26.50556°), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, coll. 24.11.1989 by K. Martens, deMoor & Barber, NNS 2002-175; many parthenogenetic females, many ephippial females, many males from Pool 2 next to Salem Road (S 33.3919°, E 26.47917°), Thomas Baines N. R., Eastern Cape, coll. 27.11.1989 by K. Martens, deMoor & Barber, NNS 2002-177; many parthenogenetic females, many ephippial females, many males from the Cradock Rd Pool 2 (pigeon shooting) (S 33.2778°, E 26.48472°) Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, coll. 28.11.1989 by K. Martens, deMoor & Barber, NNS 2002-184. Lesotho: over 15 parthenogenetic females, 10 ephippial females and 10 males from the pool 2 on Thaba Tseka Rd, km 45.2 from T.O., Drakensberg (S 29.4586°, E 27.97944°), coll. 25.11.1993 by K. Martens & Seaman, NNS 2002-167. Ethiopia: over 40 parthenogenetic females, 20 ephippial females and 20 males from Shenburit Dam (N 10.3777°, E 37.40244°), Amhara, coll. 22.03.2016 by W. Zelalem, ANN 2016-007; more than 40 parthenogenetic females, 20 ephippial females and 20 males from Gedeb Dam (N 10.39397°, E 37.40261°), Amhara, coll. 22.03.2016 by W. Zelalem, ANN 2016-012.
Short diagnosis. Species of large size for genus (length of adult parthenogenetic female up to 1.70 mm; Goulden 1968). Parthenogenetic female with body shape typical of the genus. Surface of head and valves with fine hairs. Head without rostrum and with dorsal head pore. Ocellus absent. On inner side of valve, setulae after ventralmost setae not grouped. Preanal margin of postabdomen covered by rows of relatively long hairs. Distalmost tooth on postabdomen bident. Base of postabdominal claw with pecten of denticles somewhat larger than following denticles. Antenna I relatively thick. Antenna II and thoracic limbs as for genus. Anterior stiff setae 1 and 2 of thoracic limb I armed by fine densely located short setules. Ephippium brownish, containing two resting eggs. Its dorsal part with microsculpture of transverse wrinkles. In lateral view, macrosculpture of ephippium central portion represented by polygonal mesh pattern. Male with elongated body, head and valves covered by fine hairs. Gonopore opening on dorsolateral position at some distance from base of postabdominal claw. Antenna I long, terminally with 6–7 thick bisegmented hooks of similar size. Male seta located closer to base of antennular body than to its end. Thoracic limb I with long exopodite.
Redescription. Parthenogenetic female (Figs. 1–4, 7, 8A–E, 10A–H, 16A–B). General. Body brownish, ovoid in lateral view, shape typical of the genus (body height/length ratio about 0.65 for adults, varying significantly due to extension of brood chamber development), maximum height in middle (Figs. 1A–B, 2A, 7A). Dorsal margin of valve elevated above head level (Figs. 1A–B, 2A). Posterodorsal angle of carapace expressed, usually acute. Posteroventral angle broadly rounded (Figs. 1A–B, 2A, 2E). Ventral margin of valve rounded, anterodorsal angle rounded (Figs. 1A–B, 2A, 2E, 7A). Sculpture of valves ill-defined, very fine, represented by cells elongated in dorsoventral direction (Figs. 7D–E, 16A). Superficial hairs on head and valves surface (Figs. 1C, 2K, 10A, 16A). Body subovoid in dorsal and ventral view, and laterally compressed in anterior view (Figs. 2C, 7A–B).
Head typical of genus, with shallow supra-ocular depression (Figs. 1A–C, 2A–B). Compound eye large, ocellus absent. Ovoid dorsal head pore on anterior side of depression in head posterior portion (Figs. 2A–B).
Labrum “ Ilyocryptus -like” (sensu Hudec 2010), with fleshy main body, ventral margin concave, strongly setulated (Figs. 2B, D, 7C). Labral plate covered by long setulae.
Valve large, ovoid (Figs. 1A–B, 2A, E, 7A). Anterior portion of ventral margin with relatively long setae, covered by short setulae (Figs. 1D, 2A, E, J, 7D, 10A). Ventral margin and posteroventral valve portion with row of fine ungrouped denticles after posteriormost seta (Figs. 2H–I, 16A–B). Setulated curved hooks in dorsalmost portion of valve posterior margin (Figs. 2G, 10B).
Thorax relatively long, abdomen short, their proportions typical for genus (Figs. 1A–B, 2A).
Postabdomen elongated, distal portion conically narrowing distally (Figs. 1E, 2A, 3A–B, 7F–G, 10C). Postabdomen length/height ratio about 2.4. Ventral margin almost straight, with transverse rows of fine setulae. Preanal margin long, concave, preanal angle well-expressed. Preanal margin with transverse rows of long hairs (Figs. 1E, 2A, 3A–B, 7J). Anal margin covered by bunches of short setulae, two times shorter than preanal margin. Basis of claws not inflated (Figs. 2A, 3A–C, 7F–I, 10C). On lateral face, postanal portion with large bidentate tooth (its branches unequal in length), postanal and anal portion with a row of 6–9 large, triangular plumose teeth. Postabdominal seta almost two times longer than postabdomen; its distal segment covered by long delicate setulae (Figs. 1A, 2A, 7A–B).
Postabdominal claw large, slightly curved, with pointed tip (Figs. 3A–E, 7F–I, 10C), outer side with two pectens, base of postabdominal claw with pecten of larger teeth (but no so strong as in M. brachiata) (Figs. 3D, 7G– H, 10C). Inner lateral side of postabdominal claw with row of small denticles gradually decreasing in size distally (Fig. 3E). Ventral margin of claw with several denticles at its proximal portion (Figs. 3C–D, 7H–I).
Antenna I rod-like, elongated (length approximately equal six diameters of antennular body base), slightly curved (Figs. 1C–D, 2A–C, 3F, 10E). Antennular body covered by numerous fine long hairs and transverse rows of minute denticles.Antennular sensory seta slender, arising almost at middle of antennular body. Nine short aesthetascs almost subequal in size.
Antenna II large (Figs. 2A, 3G–H), typical of moinids; coxal part with two long sensory setae subequal in length. Basal segment robust, distally with short spine on outer surface between exopod and endopod, and with long seta on inner surface. Basal segment covered by numerous transverse rows of fine denticles and hairs. Antennal branches elongated. Exopod four-segmented, subequal in length to three-segmented endopod, all segments cylindrical, covered by transverse rows of denticles and hairs. Antennal formula: setae 0-0-1-3/1-1-3, spines 0-1-0-1/0-0-1. Lateral and apical swimming setae of both antennal branches covered by long, fine setulae. Spine on second exopod segment short, but comparable in length with both apical exopod and endopod spines.
Mandible subodoid, its distal masticatory surface with several marginal denticles and wrinkled-bumpy surface.
Maxilla I with three long, densely setulated setae and short thick seta (Fig. 3I).
Thoracic limbs: five pairs.
Limb I (Fig. 4A) with elongated setulated corm and ovoid epipodite. Inner distal lobe, or endite 5 (sensu Kotov 2013) with single anterior seta (Fig. 4A: 1) covered by short setules, and two posterior soft setae (a–b). Structure and armature of all posterior soft setae similar on limb I, bisegmented and densely covered by long setules. Endite 4 with single anterior seta (Fig. 4A: 2) and single posterior soft seta (c). Endite 3 without anterior setae and with two posterior setae (d–e). Endite 2 with three posterior soft setae (f–h). Two ejector hooks of similar size (Fig. 4: ejh).
Limb II with ovoid large epipodite (Fig. 4B: epp) bearing short finger-like projection. Exopodite as elongated, densely setulated lobe bearing a single soft seta and small lateral seta of unknown homology (Fig. 4B:?). Endites e5–e2 forming corm of limb II. Endite 5 with two posterior soft setae (a–b), endite 4 with single posterior soft seta (c), endite 3 also with single posterior soft seta (d). Endite 2 with short posterior soft seta (e). “Beating seta” (sensu Kotov et al. 2005) (Fig. 4B:?) and small seta near its base separate from endite 2 via shallow incisionand also separated by incision from gnathobase corm. Gnathobase (endite 1) with two clear rows of setae: four anterior setae (Fig. 4C: 1–4) and 15 posterior setae (a–o) forming gnathobase filter plate. Seta 1 (located near “beating seta”) long, unilaterally covered by long setules. Setae 2, 3 and 4 significantly shorter (Fig. 4D), located at proximal corner of gnathobase. Proximalmost setae of filter plate longer than others (Fig. 4E)
Limb III with large ovoid epipodite (Fig. 4F: epp). Exopodite almost rectangular, bearing four long distal and two lateral setae significantly unequal in length. Inner distal portion of limb with three endites: endite 5 with single posterior (Fig. 4G: 1) and single anterior (a) setae; endite 4 with two posterior setae (b–c) and with single anterior seta (2), endite 3 with single anterior (3) and four posterior setae (d–g). All other parts of limb inner margin as single large lobe (gnathobase), bearing numerous setae. Single long anterior seta (4) at distal corner.
Limb IV with ovoid densely setulated preepipodite (Fig. 4H: pep) and large ovoid epipodite. Exopodite, similarly to that of limb III, with four long distal and two lateral setae significantly unequal in length. Inner distal portion of this limb with two endites: distal endite with anterior seta (Fig. 3I: 1?) and posterior seta (a), and next endite with anterior seta (2?) and two posterior setae (b–c). Most parts of limb inner portion represented by gnathobase filter plate, consisting of numerous setae.
Limb V with large ovoid epipodite (Fig. 4J: epp). Large ovoid exopodite provided with large distal and small apical seta. Inner limb portion as flat densely setulated ovoid lobe and two unequal setae (1–2) of uncertain homology.
Ephippial female. Characters of ephippial female similar to those of parthenogenetic female except dorsal portion of valves modified into a dark brown ephippium, containing two resting eggs (Fig. 5A, B). Dorsal part of valves with reinforced, wrinkled, chitinous dorsal plate; microsculpture of plate represented by transverse wrinkles. In lateral view, macrosculpture of ephippium central portion represented by polygonal meshes (Fig. 5C). Ornamentation of anterior portion of ephippium represented by rectangular cells (Fig. 5D), almost not protruding above ephippium surface.
Male. In lateral view, body ovoid (Fig. 5E), slightly elongated as compared to female (body height/length about 0.55). Dorsal margin of valve slightly elevated above head, posteroventral angle distinct.
Head more elongated than in female, also covered by fine hairs. Labrum (Fig. 5F) similar to that of female. Dorsal head pore present. Compound eye large, ocellus absent (Fig. 5A).
Valve ovoid, more elongated than in female; anterior surface also covered by fine hairs. Setulated curved hooks (Fig. 5G) located in dorsalmost portion of posterior margin of valve. Armature of ventral margin of valve as in female (Fig. 5H).
Thorax relatively long, abdomen short.
Postabdomen (Fig. 5I) generally as in female, with preanal margin covered by transverse rows of long hairs. Gonopore opening on dorsolateral position at some distance from base of postabdominal claw (Fig. 5J).
Antenna I significantly longer than in female, curved, covered by tiny hairs and transverse rows of minute denticles (Fig. 5K). Antennular sensory seta long, arising from proximal quarter of antennular body. Male seta more robust, located at some distance from sensory seta. Apical tip of antennular body separated into two parts: first partwith nine short aesthetascs, second partwith 6–7 thick bisegmented hooks of similar size (Fig. 5L).
Limb I generally as in female, but with large, curved copulatory hook and long exopodite (Fig. 6A–B). Proximal portion of exopodite covered by long setulae (Fig. 6C), distal portions with small triangular denticles.
Size. Adult parthenogenetic females to 1.16 mm (to 1.70 mm according to Goulden (1968)); ephippial females to 1.10 mm; adult males to 1.04 mm.
Variability. No significant variability was found between all investigated individuals (Figs.7–10). Minor variability was found in the armature of dorsal side of postabdominal claw in some individuals from Ethiopia: denticles in the central portion of their claw were significantly thicker than those in the proximal pecten (Fig. 7H).
Taxonomic remarks. Gurney (1904) did not describe males of M. belli, they were found later by Methuen (1911). In his material, Gurney (1904) observed only parthenogenetic females and a sole ephippial female (short notes on the ephippium structure, i.e. its reticulated surface and presence of two eggs, were included in the text). However, Gurney (1904: figs. 3, 4) illustrated only a general view of a parthenogenetic female and its postabdomen, respectively. Although some important diagnostic features (fine long hairs on the head and preanal margin of postabdomen) were illustrated in the figures, there were no data on a structure of appendages, particularly, of the thoracic limbs. Also, Gurney (1904) wrote that M. belli “very much resembles Moina wierzejskii Richard, and perhaps should be regarded as only variety of that species. It is mainly distinguishable by the ciliation of the head and the first antennae, and by the structure of postabdomen”. For that time, similarity of M. belli with M. wierzejskii Richard, 1895 based on morphology of parthenogenetic and ephippial females was evident (Richard 1895; Gurney 1904). After revisions of Goulden (1968) and Smirnov (1976), however, it was widely accepted that the male of M. wierzejskii has a peculiar morphology with a unique feature for large-bodied moinids containing two eggs in the ephippium. Goulden (1968) reported that the thoracic limb I in males of M. wierzejskii lacks the exopodite (Goulden 1968: p. 46, fig. 19c), while thoracic limb I in males of M. belli bears a long exopodite. In contrast to M. belli, M. wierzejskii has no head pore, and sculpture of its ephippium is represented by strongly protruding cells with wavy edges (A.N. Neretina, personal observation). Therefore, M. wierzejskii is apparently a separate species, not a variety of M. belli, as it was proposed by Gurney (1904).
The presence of the dorsal head pore, hairs on the head and the perianal region of the post-abdomen are shared by the M. belli species group and the M. macrocopa species group.Although these two species groups may be easily distinguished based on the armature of seta 2 on the thoracic limb I, a reliable diagnostics only via presence of the hairs on head and post-abdomen is impossible. For example, Sars (1916) reported M. macrocopa hatched from the mud collected from Port Elizabeth and Green Point Common in South Africa. Не did not investigate the armature of seta 2 on thoracic limb I. Then Smirnov (2008) included M. macrocopa in the check-list of South African cladocerans (referring to Sars 1916). There is, however, a high probability that Sars dealt with M. belli instead of M. macrocopa. We carefully investigated all available, and quite numerous, samples with moinids from South Africa. There are no individuals that we could place to M. macrocopa. Goulden (1968) synonymized M. macrocopa from Sars (1916) with M. belli (Goulden 1968: 69) as well.
At the same time, to date we have no ideas on the taxonomic status of M. turkomanica Keiser, 1931. This taxon was described by Keiser (1931) from the Karakum Desert and afterwards Goulden (1968) and Smirnov (1976) provisionally (with a question mark) considered this species as a junior synonym of M. belli. A similar point of view was held by Harding (1957), Forró (1988) and Kotov et al. (2013). Unfortunately, for this revision we had populations of M. belli from Africa only. Populations from other arid regions (such as Arabian Peninsula and some countries of Central Asia) were not available. In fact, M. turkomanica may represent a junior synonym of M. belli due to its geographical range. We also cannot exclude that M. turkomanica may represent a separate taxon, because, according to the description and figure of Keiser (1931: fig. 18), M. turkomanica has two eggs in the ephippium, and it seems that its male has no long exopodite on the thoracic limb I. The same combination of diagnostic features (two eggs in the ephippium and male limb I without long exopodite) was already described for M. wierzejskii and M. hutchinsoni in the New World (Goulden 1968; Smirnov 1976; Martínez-Jerónimo et al. 2004; A.N. Neretina, personal observation). Unfortunately, no original material on M. turkomanica is available (Forró 1988). Therefore, the precise taxonomic status of the populations from the Karakum desert should be clarified in the future. The record of M. turkomanica from Kenya (Jenkin 1934) seems to be very dubious, because Jenkin investigated only a single specimen and illustrated only its antenna I. Most probably, she dealt with M. belli.
Here, we consider Moina tonsurata Brehm, 1935 from Africa as a junior synonym of M. belli, following Goulden (1969), Smirnov (1976) and Kotov et al. (2013). Brehm (1935: fig. 3) illustrated a parthenogenetic female with hairs on head and, probably, with a dorsal head pore. He illustrated only four hooks on the male antenna I (Brehm 1935: fig. 6), but there is a high probability that he overlooked other, smaller, hooks or even dealt with another species of Moina, because sometimes different moinid species live in the same pool and produce males and ephippial females simultaneously (Goulden 1966). The same problem concerns the description of male by Stephanides (1936). Author pictured a male seta and a sensory setae almost at the middle of antenna I body (Stephanides 1936: fig. 2c). Such position is typical of species from the M. macrocopa species group, instead of M. belli species group. At the same time, in the next article Stephanides (1937) investigated morphology of the ephippium presumably belonging to the same species. Although he provided only sketch line drawings, the ephippium in them seems tuberous, rather than meshy. This feature is also typical ofsome populations from M. macrocopa species group (see below). Unfortunately, Stephanides did not investigate morphology of the stiff anterior setae on limb I at all. Therefore, presence of M. belli in the water bodies of Corfu remains questionable. Goulden (1968: p. 72) came to the same conclusion.
Distribution and ecology. Due to our scarce knowledge on the moinids of Central Asia, we may preliminarily conclude, that the distributional range of M. belli is restricted by Afrotropical zone only. We consider, as reliable, the records from South Africa (Gurney 1904; Methuen 1911; Daday 1912; Sars 1916; Harding 1957; Day et al. 1999; present data), including records from the Kalahari Desert (Goulden 1968) and Namibia (Curtis 1991), Central Africa (Republic of the Congo (Goulden 1968)), West Africa (Mali; Dumont et al. 1981), North Africa (Algeria (Brehm 1958); Tunisia (Turki & Turki 2010)), South East Africa (Kenya; Brehm 1935) and Ethiopia (Smirnov 1976; our data)). Probably, we can also consider as reliable the record from Aden (Yemen) by Goulden (1968). We do not take into consideration records from Corfu (Stephanides 1936, 1937), Turkmenistan (the Karakum Desert— Keiser 1931), and India (Chatterjee et al. 2013) owing to aforementioned taxonomic uncertainties related to these records.
Listed reliable records allow us to concludethat M. belli is a widespread species in Africa. Moreover, in some temporary water bodies, this species reaches a huge biomass. Moina belli inhabits temporary pools, pans, roadside ditches, ponds, reservoirs with muddy waters, and even soda rift lakes (Rumes et al. 2011; Mengistou 2016). Some authors consider M. belli as halophilic (e.g., Green 1993; Rumes et al. 2011), but it seems, that this species is adapted to a wide range of salinities (McCulloch et al. 2008; A.N. Neretina, personal observations).
Records from the Oriental region, mainly from India (e.g., Fernando & Kanduru 1984), remain dubious due to lack of detailed descriptions and figures, and must be reexamined in the future.
description: Published as part of Neretina, Anna N., Alonso, Miguel & Kotov, Alexey A., 2024, Investigation of the distribution patterns in moinids (Crustacea: Cladocera: Moinidae) forming ephippia with two resting eggs, pp. 451-490 in Zootaxa 5512 (4) on pages 455-468, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5512.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/13849048