Gladioferens Henry (Copepoda: Calanoida) discovered in Antarctica: G. antarcticus sp. nov. described from a lake in the Bunger Hills

A new species of Gladioferens is described from a freshwater lake in the Bunger Hills, Greater Antarctica. A key to the six species of Gladioferens is provided for both sexes. Most species of the subgenus containing G. antarcticus sp. nov. are remarkable in possessing asymmetries in the second legs (male) and fourth legs (female). This suggests that the mating behaviour of these species may be radically different from that in most heterarthrandrian calanoids and calls for further study. However, G. antarcticus is more primitive than its consubgeners in having, in the male, symmetrical second legs and 3-segmented endopods in the fifth legs. The genus shows a highly disjunct distribution (Australia, New Zealand and Bunger Hills) and its biogeography is now of outstanding interest.