Morphology of Elaphoidella grandidieri (Guerne & Richard, 1893) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Mexico with notes on fecundity in culture conditions
Samples collected from ponds in central Mexico contained male and female specimens of the harpacticoid copepod Elaphoidella grandidieri (Guerne & Richard, 1893). Field-collected ovigerous females were transported to the laboratory where several isofemale lines were established. Cultures were established from a single female and maintained on a mono-algal diet in moderately hard water. Specimens of both sexes, particularly the less known males, were analysed morphologically and compared with records from different geographical regions. Differences among these populations are subtle and not geographically consistent. Variations were found in the relative length of setal elements and ornamentations of swimming legs 1, 2, and 4, the proportions and armature of the exopod of the female leg (P) 5, among other characters. The specimens from Mexico have 1-2 long spines near the posteroventral margin of the anal somite; this character has been described only from a North African population. Our analysis supports the notion that this widespread pantropical species shows a considerable degree of variability in various characters. Since a clonal population of this parthenogenetic species could be established, molecular techniques are recommended to evaluate this variability and determine if E. grandidieri represents a species complex with morphologically similar taxa. The finding of E. grandidieri as an harpacticoid with high reproductive rates suggests that this copepod has an outstanding potential in aquaculture.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Elaphoidella grandidieri, Copépodos, Morfología animal, |
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