Abstract
Branchinecta mediospinosa, a new species of fairy shrimp, is described from a single artificial temporary pool in Kansas, USA. The type locality has since been destroyed. The new species shares several characters with Branchinecta lindahli and B. constricta including the general form of the male second antennal distal antennomere. However, B. mediospinosa males are readily separated from all other Branchinecta species by the presence of an apically spiniform projection on the second antenna proximalantennomere medial surface. Female B. mediospinosa also strongly resemble female B. lindahli, however B. mediospinosa has hemispherical dorsolateral projections on thoracic segments IV to X, whereas in B. lindahli they occur on IV to XI, and in B. constricta they appear on IV to XII. The Anostraca of Kansas and the Great Plains are briefly discussed, and new large branchiopod records are presented.
NSTL