Sarsilatona cf. fernandoi ( Rane, 1983 )

Gusakov, Vladimir A., Dien, Tran Duc, Tran, Hoan Quoc, Thanh, Nguyen Thi Hai, Huan, Phan Trong, Ha, Vo Thi & Dinh, Cu Nguyen, 2025, An annotated checklist of the main representatives of meiobenthos from inland water bodies of Central and Southern Vietnam. III. Water fleas (Cladocera), Zootaxa 5613 (3), pp. 401-455 : 406

3. Sarsilatona cf. fernandoi ( Rane, 1983)

Localities and specimens found: 50 − 2♀.

Distribution and ecology. This is a rare sidid from the Indo-Malaysian region that still requires additional investigation. To date, it has only been reported from a few habitats in central India, southern Thailand and southern Vietnam ( Rane 1983, 2011; Korovchinsky 2011, 2018; Sinev & Korovchinsky 2013; present study).

The lifestyle and ecology of the species are unstudied. It is probably (like Latonopsis australis ) a predominantly bottom dweller that inhabits, judging by known finds, small water bodies and the littoral zones of lakes ( Rane 1983; Korovchinsky 2011; Sinev & Korovchinsky 2013). In Vietnam, so far, Sarsilatona cf. fernandoi has been noted in two locations within Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai Province): a semi-permanent forest pond and a flooded forest area ( Korovchinsky 2011; Sinev & Korovchinsky 2013). Our only record (two adult females) was made in a permanent floodplain lake in the same territory, in a sample taken from the roots of water hyacinth (see Appendix 1). Thus, the species obviously lives among aquatic plants as well.

Remarks. It is possible that S. fernandoi may have been previously confused with other related representatives in the region, most notably with S. serricaudata ( Sars, 1901) , now considered Neotropical. Therefore, the Asian findings of this and closely related forms need to be re-examined ( Korovchinsky 2011, 2018; Van Damme & Sinev 2013).