A NEW SPECIES OF Halicyclops (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Halicyclopinae) FROM AN ESTUARINE SYSTEM OF THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF COLOMBIA/Una nueva especie de Halicyclops (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Halicyclopinae) de un sistema estuarino de la Costa Caribe de Colombia.

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Date: Jan-April 2020
From: Revista Acta Biologica Colombiana(Vol. 25, Issue 1)
Publisher: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Biologia
Document Type: Article
Length: 4,220 words

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Abstract :

Plankton samples obtained from the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, an extensive estuarine system in northern Colombia, yielded adult male and female specimens of an undescribed halicyclopine cyclopid copepod of the genus Halicyclops. Cyclopid copepods are frequently found in freshwater and transitional habitats. Members of the subfamily Halicyclopinae are chiefly brackish water forms with a few freshwater species. The new species described herein is assignable to the group of species "F" of Halicyclops (sensu Pesce, 2018) with a 2333 exopodal spine formula. Currently, this group contains five species and one subspecies. Halicyclops gutierrezi sp. n. can be distinguished from its known congeners by the absence of an anal operculum, the relative length of setae of the female and male P5, the relative length of the inner setae of P4EXP3, and details of the male antennule. This is the fifth species of Halicyclops recorded from Colombia and the first one of Halicyclops group "F" described from the Caribbean region. With the addition of H. gutierrezi sp. n., the number of species of the genus known from the Neotropics increased to 20. A key to the species of the genus recorded in Colombia is also provided. Keywords: Microcrustaceans, mangroves, shallow water, taxonomy, zooplankton. Muestras de plancton obtenidas de la Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, un extenso sistema estuarino en el norte de Colombia, produjeron especimenes machos y hembras de una especie indescrita del genero Halicyclops. Los copepodos de la familia Cyclopidae son dominantes en los habitats de agua dulce y transicionales. Los miembros de la subfamilia Halicyclopinae son predominantemente de habitats salobres, con algunas especies de agua dulce. La nueva especie aqui descrita es asignable al grupo de especies denominado "F" de Halicyclops (sensu Pesce, 2018) con una formula de espinas exopodales (P1-4) = 2333. Actualmente, este grupo contiene cinco especies y una subespecie. Halicyclops. gutierrezi sp. n. puede distinguirse de sus congeneres conocidos por la ausencia de un verdadero operculo anal, la longitud relativa de las setas de la P5 de la hembra y del macho y la longitud relativa de las setas internas de P4EXP3 y por detalles de la antenula del macho. Esta es la quinta especie de Halicyclops registrada en Colombia y la primera del grupo "F" de Halicyclops descrita en la cuenca del Caribe. Con la adicion de H. gutierrezi sp. n., aumento a 20 el numero de especies del genero que se conocen en la region Neotropical. Se proporciona una clave para la identification de las especies del genero registradas en Colombia. Palabras clave: Microcrustaceos, mangles, agua poca profunda, taxonomia, zooplancton.
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Gale Document Number: GALE|A606183178