A New Species of Elpidium (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Bromeliad and Non-bromeliad Phytotelmata in the Northeast of Argentina.

A new species of the ostracod genus Elpidium (Timiriaseviinae), a group almost exclusively known from Neotropical bromeliad phytotelmata, is here described and illustrated from the northeast of Argentina. Elpidium chacoense n. sp. represents the first record of the genus in this country and brings the total of described Elpidium species to 19. In view of the recently increased knowledge on the distribution of the species in this Neotropical genus, we discuss potential drivers of speciation that might have led to the high (endemic) diversity of the group: allopatry in bromeliad islands, sexual selection and putative co-evolution between ostracod and bromeliad species. We also point out the biogeographical relevance of the present records, which are amongst the most southern of the genus. Finally, also the fact that species of Elpidium can now also be found in non-bromeliad phytotelmata is of relevance.