Integrative taxonomy and whole genome sequencing of two new isopod species of the genus Notopais Hodgson, 1910 (Crustacea, Malacostraca) from the Southern Ocean

The genus Notopais Hodgson, 1910 is distributed in the Southern Hemisphere and comprises a total of 11 species. In the present study, we describe two new species of the genus, Notopais cryophila sp. nov. and Notopais polaris sp. nov. using integrative taxonomy. The two species can be easily identified and distinguished from the other Notopais species by the spinal and tubercular pattern on the dorsal surface of their pereonites. The morphological distinction between the two new Notopais species was confirmed by a COI barcoding analysis, as well as by their different genome size of 1.44 Gb and 2.59 Gb and large differences in genomic heterozygosity (1.52%/0.70%). In the present work, we provide the first whole genome sequencing of isopod species from the Southern Ocean and the first mitochondrial genome of the genus Notopais .