First record of the genus Cyclopina (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), and fully illustrated redescription of Cyclopina caissara from northwestern México

Abstract

SPECIMENS OF CYCLOPINA CLAUS 1863, WERE COLLECTED DURING A SHORT TERM STUDY IN THE URIAS SYSTEM (SOUTHERN SINALOA, NW MEXICO). PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS INDICATED SIMILARITY WITH C. CAISSARA LOTUFO 1994, ONLY KNOWN FROM SAO SEBASTIAO, BRASIL, ITS TYPE LOCALITY. THE NEWLY FOUND CYCLOPINA SPECIMENS WERE THOUGHT TO BELONG TO A NEW SPECIES. AFTER THOROUGH EXAMINATION AND COMPARISON WITH TYPE MATERIAL OF C. CAISSARA, NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND AS TO JUSTIFY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW SPECIES. THIS IS THE FIRST RECORD OF THE GENUS FROM MEXICAN LOCALITIES AND THE FINDING OF C. CAISSARA IN THE MOUTH OF THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA REPRESENTS A RANGE EXTENSION OF THE SPECIES FROM BRAZIL TO THE SUBTROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC. SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION REGARDING THE SPINULAR ORNAMENTATION ARE GIVEN.