Redescription of Mesocyclops aspericornis (Daday, 1906) (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from an Indian pond

The morphology of a cyclopoid copepod, Mesocyclops aspericornis(Daday, 1906), from a tropical pond is redescribed in detail.This species is clearly distinguished from Mesocyclops leuckarti.New diagnostic characters, such as the distribution of featheredand non-feathered outgrowths on the antennule, the presenceof aesthetascs in both genders, circular groups of spinulesalong the dorsal and ventral surface of caudal rami, a groupof 14 spinules on the coxa of P2 and P3 and eight spinules onP1 and P4, are described. In the case of males, a stouter firstendopodite segment of the antennae and an upwardly bent spineon the first exopodite segment of P2 and spinules on the genitalsegment are described for the first time. The taxonomy of M.aspericornis is discussed.