Three new species of Branchinecta (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca) from the nearctic

Branchinecta lateralis, B. constricta and B. serrata, three new species of fairy shrimp, are described from central North American temporary pools. Branchinecta campestris Lynch, 1960 has been thought to occur on both sides of the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the United States. However, material from east of the North American Continental Divide were found to represent an undescribed species, morphologically distinct from B. campestris, and is described here as Branchinecta lateralis n. sp. Branchinecta constricta n. sp. has affinities with B. coloradensis, and B. packardi, yet is distinguished in that the male second antenna has a proximal constriction. Branchinecta serrata n. sp. is closely related to Branchinecta paludosa and B. kaibabensis, but differs in the shape of the distal segment of the male second antenna and in the female pattern of dorsolateral projections.