engleski

Description of Speleophria mestrovi sp. nov., new copepod (Misophrioida) from an anchialine cave in the Adriatic Sea

A new copepod species, Speleophria mestrovi, collected from an anchialine cave on Vis Island (Croatia) is described. This is the first report of a misophrioid copepod, otherwise thought to be Tethyan relicts, found in an Adriatic anchialine cave. The new species is distinguished from other Speleophriids by combination of the following features: prosome is 5-segmented ; the urosome has five somites in females and six in male ; genital double-somite is symmetrical and is slightly longer than it is wide ; caudal rami are symmetrical, seta I is well developed ; the antennules of both sexes are symmetrical, that of the female is 21 and of the male is 24-segmented ; there is bulb-shaped process on the first antennular segment ; the antennal exopod is 6-segmented ; the maxillule displays 14 armature elements on the praecoxal arthrite and the basal exite is unarmed ; the fifth legs are symmetrical, 4-segmented and uniramous, and the distal segment in males and females is armed with 3 and 4 elements respectively.

Stygofauna; Copepoda; Misophrioida; anchialine caves; Adriatic Sea

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