Schizotrema wittmanni Petrescu & Sterrer, 2001
Schizotrema wittmanni: lateral view, after Petrescu & Sterrer, 2001
Taxonomic Characterization: Body with rugose tegument, dorsal spines on
pleonites 1-3. Carapace represents 0.62 of entire body length; marked
notch with a short serration on antero-ventral corner; upturned pseudorostrum
with serrated anterior margin; eye lobe with two separated groups of lenses
(three lenses, one pigmented, each).
Disposition of Specimens: Walsingham Cave (Bermuda Natural History Museum - BAMZ 2001193014; Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna - NHMW 19557).
Ecological Classification: Possibly stygophilic.
Size: 1.61 mm.
Number of Species in Genus: At least 11.
Genus Range: Along with S. agglutinanta, this is the first record of the genus Schizotrema from the Atlantic Ocean.
Species Range: Walsingham Cave, Bermuda. Also reported from
Eastern Blue Cut in Bermuda's outer reef tract.
Closest Related Species: This is the first record of the genus Schizotrema agglutinanta from which it differs by granulose tegument, longer carapace, pleonites with spines and uropodal peduncle with teeth. The only presently recorded species of Schizotrema also with long and thin uropodal peduncle is S. depressum Calman, 1911 from the Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Anchialine caves and coral reef areas of Bermuda.
Ecology: Cave specimens were primarily collected by divers using a 93 micron mesh plankton net from the surface of silty bottom sediments.
Life History: Only three specimens known are all males (Petrescu & Sterrer, 2001:117).
Evolutionary Origins: Cave populations probably colonized from open waters.
Conservation Status: Known from only three specimens, two collected in Walsingham Cave and the other from Eastern Blue Cut in Bermuda's outer reef tract.
Contributor: Iorgu Petrescu, Grigore Antipa Museum of Natural History,
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