Thalamocyclops pachypes gen. nov., sp. nov. (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Cyclopidae), a crevicular cyclopine from Socotra Island (Yemen): tale of a remarkable survival drive

A new cyclopine copepod, Thalamocyclops pachypes sp. nov. was found to roam the crevicular residence of the semi-terrestrial brachyuran crab Socotra pseudocardisoma living on the Diksam limestone plateau of Socotra Island (Yemen). The remarkable morphology of the antennules, maxilliped and the infla...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of natural history 2017-11, Vol.51 (41-42), p.2463-2507
Main Authors: Fiers, Frank, Van Damme, Kay
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Copepoda
Crabs
Cyclopoida
development
epikarst
functional morphology
Legs
Limestone
microclimate
microcosms
Morphology
Mouthparts
New genera
New species
Socotra
Somites
Survival
Taxonomic revision
Terrestrial environments
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Summary:A new cyclopine copepod, Thalamocyclops pachypes sp. nov. was found to roam the crevicular residence of the semi-terrestrial brachyuran crab Socotra pseudocardisoma living on the Diksam limestone plateau of Socotra Island (Yemen). The remarkable morphology of the antennules, maxilliped and the inflated legs 4 and 5 justified the erection of a separate copepod genus, Thalamocyclops gen. nov. Re-examination of the previously described Bryocyclops soqotraensis revealed striking resemblances, which prompted the reallocation of it to the new genus: Thalamocyclops soqotraensis comb. nov. The description of the latter is emended. Besides the adult morphology, the copepod development of T. pachypes sp. nov. is described and some information on the naupliar stages is provided.The particular body shape, the highly specialized mouthparts and the uniquely engulfed metasomal somites and legs of T. pachypes sp. nov. appear to be related to its feeding and reproductive strategies in a most particular habitat in which drastic temporal and long-term changes occur. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid/zoobank.org.pub:9ADC9001-1B11-4843-9A49-4B94675DFB33
ISSN:0022-2933
1464-5262
DOI:10.1080/00222933.2017.1344328