Theosbaena loko sp. n. a new stygobiotic microshrimp (Thermosbaenacea: Halosbaenidae) from southern Thailand

BACKGROUND: Thermosbaenaceans are subterranean crustaceans, widespread and occur in freshwater, oligohaline or anchialine caves or thermal springs. Currently, four families, seven genera,and 45 species are recognised worldwide. During our studies of the isolated karst, Tham Loko (Loko Cave) in Khao Chiason District, Phatthalung Province, we found an undescribed thermosbanacean species in the genus Theosbaena. Theosbaena is the only genus reported from freshwater in the Oriental Region. Previously, there were only two known species, Theosbaena cambodjiana Cals & Boutin, 1985 from Kampot Province, southern Cambodia and Khon Kaen, Thailand and T. kiatwongchai Rogers & Sanoamuang, 2016 discovered in a cave of Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan, central Thailand. Our new species is the third species recorded in the Oriental Region. NEW INFORMATION: Theosbaena loko sp. n. differs from its congeners by having a telson 1.8x longer than its breadth, maxilla 1 palp distal segment 4x longer than the proximal palpomere and the maxillopodal exopod twice as long as its basal width. This microshrimp is the third described species of the genus. A key to the species is given and suggestions for the conservation status of the new species are discussed.