Discovery of Laophontidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from marine plastic debris: <i>Pseudonychocamptus setadefectus</i> sp. nov. and <i>Heterolaophonte discophora</i> (Willey, 1929).

ABSTRACT: Two species belonging to the family Laophontidae Scott T., 1905 were identified among harpacticoid copepods collected from marine plastic debris (MPD) stranded along the Korean coastline. These species were assigned to the genera Pseudonychocamptus Lang, 1944 and Heterolaophonte Lang, 1948. Pseudonychocamptus setadefectus sp. nov. conforms to the generic diagnosis, displaying sexual dimorphism in the armature of the swimming legs. It is distinguished from its six congeners by possessing only two endites on the maxillary syncoxa, notably lacking the proximal endite bearing the seta that is present in all other known species within the genus. Although most morphologically similar to P. colomboi Ceccherelli, 1988, the new species differs in several key chara

SUBMITTER: Cho K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12455218 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature