A New Species of the Genus Halectinosoma Vervoort, 1962 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Ectinosomatidae) from the East Coast of Korea, with a Key to Species of the Curticorne-Group

Hyun Woo Bang

doi:10.3390/taxonomy1010002

Abstract

A new species of genus Halectinosoma Vervoort, 1962 was collected from the east coast of Korea. The genus Halectinosoma comprises about 70 species, but only three species have previously been reported in East Asia. Halectinosoma munmui sp. nov. is morphologically most closely related to H. langi Wells 1967 from Inhaca Island, Mozambique, and H. oblongum (Kunz, 1949) from Heligoland island, Germany, however clearly distinguishable from it based on the following morphological characteristics: 5-segmented and elongated female antennule, mandible gnathobase without seta, about 5.6 times as long as the greatest width of the basis of the maxilliped, and outer seta of the P5 endopodal lobe longer than the inner seta. A key to species of the curticorne-group of Halectinosoma is provided.

Highlights

To date, the biodiversity of harpacticoid copepods on the coast of Korea is poorly documented compared to other countries such as the United States, countries in the Caribbean Sea, Japan and Europe [1], because the history of taxonomic research is relatively short and there are not many studies and research [2]
I describe Halectinosoma munmui sp. nov. from sediments of the east coast of Korea based on female morphology and provide an updated key to the species of Halectinosoma
The subgenus Halectinosoma was upgraded to genus level by Verboort [9] and

Summary

Introduction

The biodiversity of harpacticoid copepods on the coast of Korea is poorly documented compared to other countries such as the United States, countries in the Caribbean Sea, Japan and Europe [1], because the history of taxonomic research is relatively short and there are not many studies and research [2]. The list of reported species along the coast of Korea is expected to grow very fast as many new and unrecorded species are discovered each year through various taxonomic studies [1], including the project of ‘Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species’, which have been conducted since 2006. The genus Halectinosoma is one of the largest groups in the family Ectinosomatidae, only three species of Halectinosoma have been reported in. Sciberras et al [3] organized and reevaluated several confused and complex species of Halectinosoma during the reporting of the new species H. parejae from Argentina, and updating the key to genera of the family Ectinosomatidae. From sediments of the east coast of Korea based on female morphology and provide an updated key to the species of Halectinosoma.

Materials and Methods

Results—Systematics

Discussion