A new epacteriscid copepod (Calanoida: Epacteriscidae) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, with comments on the biogeography of the family

Abstract

ABSTRACT The calanoid copepod family Epacteriscidae is represented by species from tropical marine and anchialine environments. Surveys of the anchialine invertebrate fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, have resulted in a number of interesting records of crustaceans during the last decade, but no records of Epacteriscidae. However, recent collections from hypogean environments of the Yucatan have yielded specimens of a new species of the previously monotypic genus Balinella. The specimens were included in this genus by having three outer spines on the third exopodal segment of legs 3 and 4, a biramous mandibular palp, and an antennal endopod longer than the exopod, among other characters. The new species, B. yucatanensis, is described on the basis of male and female specimens collected in caves associated with three different karstic sinkholes. The new species is distinguished from its only known congener, B. ornata Fosshagen, Boxshall and Iliffe, 2001, by the strong asymmetry of the caudal rami in fe...