A revision of Thompsonulidae Lang, 1944 (Gopepoda: Harpacticoida)

The harpacticoid copepod subfamily Thompsonulinae Lang, 1944, formerly recognized as belonging to the family Tachidiidae (Lang, 1948) is raised to family rank and redefined to include only the genera Thompsonula T. Scott and Caribbula gen. nov. Thompsonula hyaenae (I. C. Thompson) and T. curticauda (Wilson) are redescribed and refigured. Re-examination of the original material showed that Wilson's Rathbunula agilis is synonymous with T. curticauda and not with T. hyaenae , as suggested by Lang (1948). It is now clear that the two species of Thompsonula have distinct distributions, T. curticauda being confined to the North American continent and T. hyaenae to western Europe and the Mediterranean. The genus Caribbula is established to accommodate the type species, T. hyaenae elongata (Gee) and C. fleegeri sp. nov. which are described and figured. The genus Caribbula is distinguished from Thompsonua , primarily by the unique sexual dimorphism on the exopod of P4 and, at present, is known only from the eastern seaboard of the United States and Gulf of Mexico. The genera Danielssenia, Psammis, Paradanielssenia, Micropsammis and Leptotachidia are tentatively assigned to the family Paranannopidae Por.     

Copepods from ground waters of Western Australia, VII. Nitokra humphreysi sp. nov. (Crustacea: Copepoda: Harpacticoida)

Nitokra humphreysi sp. nov. (Harpacticoida: Ameiridae) is described from anchialine ground waters of the Cape Range karst area in northwestern Australia. The new species belongs to those species of the genus Nitokra Boeck, 1865 with a reduced number of spines/setae on the basoendopodite of the female fifth leg. It is remarkably similar to N. reunionensis Bozic, 1969 and to N. laingensis Fiers, 1986, but there are clear distinguishing features. Nitokra humphreysi sp. nov. has clear stygomorphic features, being colourless and lacking the nauplius eye.     

A new species of Neocervinia (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Cerviniidae) from the hyperbenthos of the Hatsushima cold-seep site in Sagami Bay, Japan

A new species of harpacticoid copepod, Neocervinia itoi (Cerviniidae), is described on the basis of females and copepodids collected from the Hatsushima cold-seep site in Sagami Bay, Japan. It is morphologically very close to its deep-sea congeners N. tenuicauda (Brotskaya, 1963) and N. unisetosa (Montagna, 1981). The new species differs primarily in the segmentation of the antennule and the endopod of both mandible and maxilliped, and in form and shape of the setae on leg 5. The presence of sensillar structures on the proximal part of the antennule is discussed. A key to the species of Neocervinia is presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The genus Thermocyclops (Crustacea: Copepoda) in Uzbekistan (Central Asia)

Five Thermocyclops species were found in Uzbekistan: T. crassus, T. dybowskii, T. rylovi, T. taihokuensis, and T. vermifer. The last species has been for the first time recorded in the region. The data on morphology, variability and distribution of these species in Uzbekistan are given. A key to determine to the five species is proposed.     

A revision of Danielssenia perezi Monard, D. paraperezi Soyer, D. eastwardae Coull (Harpacticoida; Paranannopidae) and their transfer to a new genus

The harpacticoid copepod Danielssenia perezi Monard, 1935 is redescribed on the basis of the only available material from the Scilly Isles off south-west Britain. Sentirenia gen. nov is erected because this species exhibits significant differences from the type species Danielssenia typica Boeck, 1872 in the structure of the antennule; the presence of sensory aesthetascs on, and structure of, the mandible, maxillula and maxilla; the form of the female P5; the setation of the swimming legs and details of the sexual dimorphism on the endopod of the male P2. Further, it is shown that the characters by which D. paraperezi Soyer, 1970 was originally distinguished from D. perezi are no longer valid and D. paraperezi is a junior synonym of S. perezi which now assumes a boreo-mediterranean distribution. A re-examination of the type material of D , eastwardae Coull, 1971 shows that this species is identical to S. perezi in the structure of the mouthparts (including the presence of aesthetascs on the mandible, maxillula and maxilla) and setation of P1–P5. However, within the genus Sentirenia, its specific status is maintained by virtue of a 5-segmented female antennule; a difference in the shape of the endopodal lobe of the female P5; the sexually dimorphic characters of the male P2 endopod; and variation in the ornamentation of some appendages.     

Distribution and habitat preferences of species within the genus Elaphoidella Chappuis, 1929 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Harpacticoida) in Slovenia

Twelve species of the harpacticoid genus Elaphoidella, most of them exclusively groundwater species, have been recorded in Slovenia (SE Europe). Their distribution and ecology are reviewed with the aim of evaluating distribution patterns, species preferences for groundwater habitats, ecological preferences and interactions with other copepod species at regional scale. Data on Elaphoidella species were obtained partly from the existing literature and partly from the author's (AB) own sampling campaigns carried out together with his co-workers. During the rich history of collecting copepods in Slovenia (from the 1920s to present), Elaphoidella species were recorded at 78 sampling sites altogether. The majority of collecting was conducted in the southern (Dinaric region) and north-western (Alpine region) Slovenia. The most intensively sampled habitats were porous aquifers of alluvial plains, springs in the karstic unsaturated zone and percolation water in caves. The highest species richness of Elaphoidella was recorded in the southern Slovenia, where 10 species were found. The strictly “Dinaric” species are E. charon, E. franci, E. karstica, E. stammeri, E. sp. 1 and E. sp. 2, while E. phreatica and E. bidens were found exclusively in the north-western Slovenia. From the latest data on the copepod distributions (2002–2004), where the environmental characteristics of sampling sites were also measured, the relationship between selected environmental characteristics of the habitats and the presence of Elaphoidella species was analysed. The distribution of Elaphoidella species in Slovenia was found to be related with the region, habitat type, altitude, conductivity and pH of the water.     

A new genus of Cletopsyllidae (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) from Gulf of Mexico

A new genus and new species of the family Cletopsyllidae Huys & Willems, 1989 from deep-sea sediment in the Gulf of Mexico, are reported and fully described and illustrated. The new genus Pentacletopsyllus (type species: P. montagnisp. n.) can be distinguished from the four known genera of the family by antennule segmentation, length ratio of first and second endopodal segments of P1, and armature pattern on P5 exopod. It also differs from its sister genera by the rostrum being bifid at the tip, third segment of the female antennule having a smooth posterior margin, the baseoendopod of P5 with biarticulate outer setophore bearing basal seta, and female caudal rami without lobate expansion. A revised key to species of the family Cletopsyllidae Huys & Willems, 1989 is provided.     

Some Crustacea Copepoda from Venezuela

The study of 38 samples of aquatic fauna from Venezuela increased the number of known species here from 28 to 66. Fifteen new species for science are described. A list of Copepoda known from the other regions of South America is presented. From this list, it can be said that only 50% of the inland water Copepoda living actually in Venezuela are known.     

Pseudomoraria triglavensis gen. n., sp. n. (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) from a high-alpine reservoir in Slovenia

Numerous specimens of Pseudomoraria triglavensis gen.n., sp.n. were collected from small, high-alpine, reservoir Moilec. The reservoir is situated in the centre of Triglav national park (NW Slovenia) at an altitude of 1690 m. The new genus differs from related genera Moraria, Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis by the reduced articulation of exopodites and endopodites in both sexes. It also differs from Moraria by possessing sexually dimorphic furcal rami. Detail taxonomic differences between these related genera and their ecology are discussed.     

Pindamoraria boraceiae, a new genus and species of freshwater Canthocamptidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Brazil

Members of a new genus and species of harpacticoid copepod crustacean appeared in samples from semi-terrestrial (moist arboreal mosses, wet soil) and aquatic (bromeliad tanks, Sphagnum moss, rock pools, stream) habitats in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil. The new taxon, for which we propose the name Pindamoraria boraceiae sp. nov. , is distinguished by a unique combination of characters, in particular the segmentation and setation pattern of legs 1–4 in both sexes, the structure of leg 5 in the female, and the strongly modified claw of the maxilliped in the male. It most resembles the canthocamptid genera Moraria , Pseudomoraria , Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis . Both previous records of species of Moraria from South America refer to members of Antarctobiotus , which is not considered a member of the Moraria group: Moraria (Kuehneltiella) neotropica Löffler has previously been transferred to Antarctobiotus ; and we propose herein the transfer of Moraria kummeroworum Ebert & Noodt to Antarctobiotus as well. In the New World, the genus Moraria extends only as far south as Honduras; and Pseudomoraria , Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis are Old World genera. The new species from Brazil is therefore the only member of the Moraria group known from South America.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 139, 81–92.     

A parthenogenetic life cycle in a population of Canthocamptus Staphylinus (Copepoda,Harpacticoida)

The harpacticoid copepod Canthocamptus staphylinus (Jurine) was shown to reproduce parthenogenetically in an oligotrophic Finnish lake. The population was univoltine with peaks of egg production in winter and early spring. Young from both peaks became adults in spring and aestivated as cysts. Laboratory experiments suggested that either high temperature (12 °C or more) or long days will inhibit egg production, but that both factors together are needed to induce encystment. Embryonic survival was low, on the average only 60%. The population was limited by low food levels in winter, and it is suggested that food shortage prevents the species from colonizing the profundal zone of oligotrophic lakes.     

Temporal and Spatial Meiofauna Fluctuations in an Inlet of the South West Baltic (Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain) with Special Reference to the Harpacticoida (Copepoda,Crustacea)

Diurnal, seasonal and annual fluctuations of the meiofauna population density were recorded during long term investigations carried out in an inlet of the southwestern coast of the Baltic from 1970 to 1980. Field experiments have shown a diurnal vertical migration of harpacticoids, which leave the sediment at night to colonize the pelagic zone 14 times more densely than during day. Besides the seasonal fluctuations considerable differences were observed between the meiofauna densities in two successive years from samples taken twice in a grid consisting of 98 stations: the abundances of all meiofauna taxa decreased by approximately 50 %. These fluctuations are not only caused by the reproductive activities of the meiofauna under different environmental conditions, but they are to a great extent a result of the active and passive movements of the meiofauna.     

Peltidiphonte gen. n., a New Taxon of Laophontidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from Coral Substrates of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean

A new genus of the harpacticoid family Laophontidae is described and named Peltidiphonte gen. n. Eight new species are assigned to this genus; they were collected from different locations in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, including the Comoros, the Kenyan coast, the Red Sea, the Andaman Islands, the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the northeastern coast of Australia. Most of the specimens were collected from dead coral substrates, suggesting a close affinity between the members of the new genus and this substrate. Peltidiphonte gen. n. can easily be discriminated from other genera of the family by the extremely depressed body and by the shape of the antennule, bearing two (or three) processes on the first segment and a hook-like process along the outer margin of the second segment. An identification key for the new genus is provided.