Elaphoidella gracilis (Sars, 1863)

KARPOWICZ, Maciej, 2016, New data to the knowledge on the Harpacticoida (Crustacea, Copepoda) fauna in Poland, Fragmenta Faunistica 59 (2), pp. 87-98 : 91

Elaphoidella gracilis (Sars, 1863)

(Figs 12–13)

Lo c a t i o n, e c o l o g y. In peatbogs surrounding dystrophic lakes in Wigry National Park (Suchar I, Suchar II) and Lake Sęczek in Masurian Lakeland. Both males and females occurred in relatively high abundances. Some females carried egg sacks (Fig. 12).

G e n e r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o l o g y. Widespread in Poland ( Błędzki 2004) and occurs almost throughout Europe ( Borutzky 1952). Elaphoidella gracilis inhabits various types of water bodies, yet it prefers sphagnous peat swamp and it is particularly abundant in small pools ( Borutzky 1952).

D i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e s. Female relatively large (Fig. 12), total body length without caudal setae 0.70−0.77 mm. Caudal rami 3 times as long as maximum width (Fig. 13), with outer margin bearing two lateral setae.