Porcellidiidae and Peltidiidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from the marine algae of St Croix Island, Algoa Bay, South Africa

Abstract

The marine alga-dwelling members of the harpacticoid copepod families Porcellidiidae Sars and Peltidiidae Sars are documented from St Croix Island, Algoa Bay, South Africa. The fauna presently known from this locality consists of ten species, six of which are described as new. Porcellidium algoense sp. nov. is most closely related to P. rubrum Pallares, P. erythrum Hicks and P. hartmannorum Tiemann but differs in the shape of the female abdomen, the relative length of the female P5 exopod setae and the nature of the male antennule. Porcellidium laurencium sp. nov. and P. ulvum sp. nov. are shown to be part of a complex with P. clavigerum Pesta and P. echinophilum Humes & Gelerman but are separable on morphometric data. Porcellidium tristanense Wiborg is redescribed from type material, correcting errors in the original description, and is recorded within the present collection. A single female specimen of Porcellidium rubrum in Wiborg's vial of P. tristanense would seem to establish a new record for this species from Tristan da Cunha. Alteutha depressa (Baird) and A. sarsi Monard represent new records for South Africa and figures are provided. Alteutha roeae sp. nov. is unique within the genus in possessing only four setae on the terminal segment of the P1 endopod and only two large spine-setae on the female P5 exopod. Two new species of Eupelte are described: E. hexaseta sp. nov. is characterized by six setae on the distal segment of the P1 endopod; E. beckleyae sp. nov. is allied to E. tristanensis Wiborg but differs in the setal formulae of P2 and P3 endopods and the P4 exopod. A key to Eupelte is presented. Errors in the published descriptions of Porcellidium erythrum and Eupelte regalis Hicks are rectified.