A new species of Maraenobiotus Mrzek, 1893 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Canthocamptidae) from Colombian Andean mosses, with an identification key for the American species.

Abstract

Maraenobiotus wellsi sp. nov. (Canthocamptidae) is described based on material collected in mosses in the pramo region of the Andean Cordillera of Colombia. The new species is closely related to M. australis Apostolov, 2001 from Tierra de Fuego in Argentina, but can be distiguished by the shape of the caudal rami, the insertion point of its terminal seta IV, and the chaetotaxy of distal segments of legs 3 and 4. We discuss morphological differences with other congeners inhabiting South America (Peru), i.e. M. naticochensis Delachaux, 1917, M. fontinalis Harding, 1955 and M. fontinaloides Lffler, 1960. Major distinguishing features were observed in the chaetotaxy of legs 2 and 3, the morphology and size of the caudal rami, and the ornamentation of the anal operculum. We also discuss morphological characters that distinguish the new species from those living exclusively in mosses, such as M. cuspidatus trba, 1968 and M. canadensis Flssner, 1992, and those reported from mosses and other habitats i.e.. M. vejdovskyi Mrzek, 1893, M. brucei brucei (Richard, 1898), M. zschokkei Kreis, 1920, M. brucei himalayensis Chappuis, 1928b, M. truncatus (Gurney, 1932), M. insignipes elgonensis Chappuis, 1936, M. insignipes nepalensis Lffler, 1968 and M. kinabaluensis Lffler, 1973. A distribution map of American species and an identification key for females are provided.