New Italian species reveal hidden diversity of subterranean Ostracoda
The study documents the first confirmed occurrence of the genus Marmocandona in Italy and describes two new species, Marmocandona zanichellii and Marmocandona valentinae, from groundwater habitats. Morphological analyses of valves and soft-part anatomy reveal distinctive traits that expand the known diversity and diagnostic characteristics of the genus. The research also reports additional Marmocandona material from central Italy, highlighting the complexity of subterranean ostracod taxonomy and biogeography. These findings demonstrate that groundwater ecosystems harbor a largely underestimated biodiversity and emphasize the limits of classifications based solely on shell morphology. By providing new taxonomic data and insights into evolutionary adaptations to subterranean environments, the study establishes an important foundation for future integrative research on groundwater crustaceans and their evolutionary history.
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