Harpacticoida Sars, 1903

Fiers, Frank & Jocque, Merlijn, 2013, Leaf litter copepods from a cloud forest mountain top in Honduras (Copepoda: Cyclopidae, Canthocamptidae), Zootaxa 3630 (2), pp. 270-290 : 276-286

Order Harpacticoida Sars, 1903

Family Canthocamptidae Brady 1880

Genus Moraria T. & A. Scott, 1893 Moraria catracha sp. nov. ( Figs. 5–9 )

Type material. Holotype, female, dissected, registered RBINSc COP 9944A-C; allotype, male, dissected, registered RBINSc COP 9946A-C; paratype, female, dissected, registered RBINSc COP 9945A-C; paratypes preserved: 17 females (9 ovigerous), 14 males, 2 copepodids, registered RBINSc COP 9947.

Type locality. Honduras, El Cusuco National Park, Elfin forest floor (see: Material and methods for details).

Etymology. Derived from “ catracha ” (feminine of Catracho) the complimentary nickname for Hondurans. Gender: feminine.

Description. Female. Habitus ( Fig. 5 A) cylindrical, slightly narrowing caudally. Body length 495 μm (holotype, paratypes 487–515 μm). Prosome and urosome equally long. Genital double-somite short, ratio length/ width: 0.75/1. Dorsal integumental window on cephalothorax ovoid. Lateral integumental windows on pedigers 2 and 3 ovate (not illustrated). No windows observed on lateral surface of cephalothorax. Posterior margin of each somite straight. Integument structure with refractile punctations. Cephalothorax and metasomites without ornaments. Leg 5 pediger with continuous transverse line of minute spinules dorsally and comb of long and slender spinules laterally. Dorsal surface of genital double- somite bare. Lateral surface with rows of minute spinules (2 in frontal half, 1 in caudal half) and two combs of long and slender spinules (1 in middle, 1 along posterior margin). Urosomites 4 and 5 without dorsal ornamentation. Lateral and ventral surface with 3 combs of slender spinules: anterior row limited to lateral surface, caudal ones expanded over entire width.

Anal somite ( Figs. 5 G, 7AB) with median transverse row of spinules extending dorsally (minute ones) and laterally (longer ones). Posterodorsal margin with serrate fringe between lateral corner of anal operculum and outer edge. Spinules along posteroventral margin irregularly spaced, extending laterally. Anal operculum expanded caudally, rounded, posterior margin smooth.

Caudal rami ( Figs. 5 G, 6AB) tapering caudally, length/width-ratio: 1.6/1 (width measured near anterolateral setae). Dorsal surface with prominent dorsal crest, extending from dorsolateral anal sinus corner to insertion of dorsal seta and projected into sharp, caudally directed, process. Medial surface with spinular row in middle, extending from dorsal crest to near ventral surface, arranged along crescent, caudally directed, line. Posteroventral margin with spinular row, posterodorsal margin smooth. Anterolateral and accessory anterolateral seta inserted in frontal third, distolateral element in second. Anterolateral and distolateral setae equally long, accessory one minute. Outer and inner terminal setae without breaking plane, serrate along outer margin ( Fig. 5 B). Outer margin of outer principal seta inflated at insertion, inner seta not. Medial terminal seta globular proximally and finely serrate. Dorsal seta articulating on 2 basal parts.

Rostrum ( Fig. 5 E) large, wide, linguiform, with narrow prominent hyaline apex and pair of sensilla. Partially fused to cephalothorax, and typically ventrally directed.

Antennule ( Figs. 6 A–C) 8-segmented; first segment with spinule row in middle and single spinule near distal edge on frontal directed margin. Armature (from distal to apical segment, see Fig. 6 B): 1(1)-2(9)-3(6)-4(2+Aesth)- 5(1)-6(3)-7(2)-8(7+Aesth). Aesthetasc on segment 4 wide, fused at basis with seta, and not reaching beyond terminal segment. Aesthetasc on segment 8, fused with 2 setae at basis, narrow and short. Setae on ventral surface of second segment inserted on crest, with caudalmost element inserted in wide circular depression.

Antenna ( Fig. 6 E): precoxa narrow, with crown of spinules on outer edge. Both coxal and basal setae present on abexopodal margin of allobasis. Exopodite one-segmented, bearing 4 slender setae (2 subapical and 2 apical ones) and 2 long slim spinules. Endopodite with 3 lateral (2 spines, 1 seta) and 6 terminal elements: outer terminal elements fused at base: outermost dwarfed, inner one prominent, serrate and flagellated. Median terminal setae longest, geniculate. Inner terminal elements spiniform, robust, and serrate.

Mandibular palp 2-segmented, bearing 1 outer and 2 medial setae on basis ( Fig. 6 I). Endopodite short, rectangular, with 3 elements. Maxillule ( Fig. 6 F) 3-segmented. Precoxal arthrite with 8 elements along margin (6 medial, 2 lateral) and 2 surface setae. Coxa with 2 medial elements. Basis with 7 elements: 2 medial, 2 subdistal and 3 median ones. One medial seta robust with dense serra of long spinules at tip. Maxilla ( Fig. 6 G): with two endites, each with 2 pinnate setae. Outer distal corner of syncoxa with cluster of long setules. Basis with serrate claw and 2 accessory setae. Endopodite obsolete, represented by 2 long setae.

Maxilliped ( Fig. 6 H) bearing single serrate element on syncoxa. Basis with three large spinules near distal medial edge. Claw with long accessory seta and furnished with long spinules in distal third part.

RBINSc COP

Intercoxal sclerite of legs 1–4 ( Figs. 7 C, 8A–C) with concave distal margin and naked surface. Praecoxa without ornamentation. Frontal surface of coxa with spinule row near distal outer edge and in middle. Coxa with smooth caudal surface smooth, except for 1 or 2 slender spinules near proximal outer edge. Basis with spinule row along outer distal edge (insertion of outer element) and below articulation with endopodite on frontal surface. Basis of leg 1 with additional spinular comb near insertion of medial spine ( Fig. 7 D). Caudal surface of basis unadorned. Outer element on leg 1 and leg 2 basis spiniform and flagellate, on legs 3 and 4 setiform. Exopodites 3-segmented, endopodites 2-segmented. Endopodite of leg 1 ( Fig. 7 C) reaching halfway along distal exopodite segment; proximal segment twice as long as distal one and both segments with stout spinules along outer margin. Inner element on proximal segment, and proximalmost medial element on distal segment pectinate. Medial subapical element shorter than segment, outer terminal element long and geniculate. Endopodites of legs 2–4 with one (proximal segment) and 2 (distal segment) spines on outer margin. Inner element on proximal segments (leg 2–4) and proximal element on distal segment (legs 3–4) and medial element on leg 4 exopodite pectinate. Setal armature robust, with narrow internal lumen.

Leg 5 ( Fig. 9 AB) baseoendopodites with large endopodite expansion, both interconnected via narrow concave sclerite. Outer seta present. Exopodite distinct from baseoendopodite, ovoid, not reaching beyond apical edge of endopodite lobe, bearing 5 setae. Apicalmost seta and outer subapical setae smooth, inner subapical and both lateral ones sparsely pinnate. Medial lobe of baseoendopodite with 6 setae. Inner proximal ones equally long and pectinate; inner subapical and apical one sparsely pinnate. Outer subapical and outer proximal with rigid setules. Integument of rami smooth, except for 1 spinule near inner subapical element on exopodite, and near insertion of apical and inner subapical element on baseoendopodite.

Leg 6 ( Fig. 7 A) small, ovoid, with 3 elements: 2 minute hyaline elements (median and middle one) and 1 strong outwards curved element set with long and stout setules. Copulatory pore wide, leading to short funnel. Seminal receptacles extended far caudally. Associated pores located in anterior half of double-somite, orifices not extended.

Male. Habitus as in female ( Fig. 5 C). Dorsal integumental window slightly constricted in middle. Body length 450 μm (holotype, paratypes: 450–485 μm). Spinular ornament on urosomites ( Figs. 9 D, E) as in female. Urosomite 3 with additional lateral comb and spinular row, subdivided in discrete groups, along posteroventral margin. Urosomites 4 and 5 densely adorned with transverse rows, with posteroventral row subdivided in short discrete groups. Anal somite, anal operculum and caudal rami as in female, except for narrow basal part of outer terminal principal seta ( Fig. 5 D, F).

Antennule ( Fig. 6 D) 9-segmented with incomplete suture on segment 7, sub-chirocer. Aesthetascs on segment 4 and 9, both as in female. Setal complement not observed in detail (obscured by dirt). First antennulary segment and mouthparts as in female.

Leg 1, protopodites and exopodites of legs 2–4 as in female. Leg 2 endopodite ( Fig. 8 E) 2-segmented with 2 large sharp spines along outer margin of first segment. First segment with medial pectinate seta. Second segment with 2 apical elements: inner one twice as long as outer one. Leg 3 endopodite ( Fig. 8 F) 2-segmented. First segment with subdistal sharp spinule on outer margin and pectinate element on medial one. Medial element on second segment fused to segment, sigmoid, armed with apical hook. Median distal element long and stout, serrate along medial margin. Outer distal element confluent with segment, sinoid in distal fourth, with sharp tip. Leg 4 endopodite ( Figs. 8 GH) two segmented, with second segment twice as long as first one. Outer margin of first segment with 1 spinule, second segment with 2 spinules. First segment with medial pectinate element. Second segment with 3 medial elements: proximal one longest and pinnate, middle one second longest and serrate, distal one shortest and smooth. Terminal element on second segment cork screw-like and hyaline in appearance.

Leg 5 ( Fig. 9 C) baseoendopodites fused. Medial lobe short rectangular, bearing 2 serrate spines, outer slightly shorter than inner. Outer seta present. Exopodite rectangular, reaching beyond apical edge of endopodite expansion, with 5 elements: medial proximal one pectinate, medial subapical and apical one pinnate, outer elements smooth. Integument of rami smooth. Additional ornament absent.

Leg 6 ( Fig. 9 D) with 3 elements: outer one and median one long, medial one minute and slender. Right leg 6 fused to pediger, left one functional. Integument of valves smooth.

Moraria cusuca sp. nov. ( Figs. 10–11 )

Type material. Holotype, female, dissected, registered RBINSc COP 9939A-C; paratypes: 2 females, preserved, registered RBINSc COP 9940.

Type locality. Honduras, El Cusuco National Park, Elfin forest floor (see: Material and methods for details).

Etymology. derived from “ cusuca ” (feminine of cusuco), the Honduran vernacular name for the armadillo, Dasypus novermcintus (Linneaus, 1758) , featured as emblem for the national park from where the harpacticoid was collected.

Description. Female. Habitus ( Fig. 10 A) cylindrical, with urosome slightly tapering caudally. Prosome and urosome equally long. Cephalothorax with dorsal integumental window in posterior half, constricted in middle. Integument of cephalothorax and metasome smooth. Leg 5 pediger and genital double-somite without spinular ornamentation ( Figs. 10 CD). Body length: 430–438 μm. Posterior margin of urosomite 4 set with ventral spinule row, extended between both sensilla, and short lateral row. Posterior margin of urosomite 5 with spinules arranged in discrete groups along posteroventral margin, extending laterally. Both somites with additional median row of short and slender spinules in anterior half of ventral surface. Anal somite as in previous species, but anal operculum more prominently expanded caudally, rather triangular with rounded apex. Opercular margin smooth. Integument of all somites showing refractile punctations.

Caudal rami ( Figs. 10 CD) with spinular ornament along medial margin, resembling ornamentation of preceding species, but arranged in straight line between dorsal and ventral margin, and located in caudal third of margin. Setal armature as in previous species. Rostrum, antennule and mouthparts as in previous species. Leg 1 (not illustrated) as in M. catracha sp. nov., but medial subapical seta on second endopodite segment slightly longer Intercoxal sclerite in legs 1–4 ( Figs. 11 A–C) with naked surface and concave distal margin. Precoxa without, coxa and basis with spinular combs on frontal surface. Posterior surface of legs not observed.

Medial element on first endopodite segment of legs 2–4, on second endopodite segment in leg 3, and on medial margin of distal exopodite segment of leg 4 pectinate. Distal endopodite segments of legs 2–4 shorter than proximal segments. Both segments with set of 1 or 2 spinules along outer margin.

Leg 5 ( Fig. 11 D) as in M. catracha . Mediodistal spinule on exopodite absent in holotype, present in paratypes.

Leg 6 ( Fig. 10 A) and genital area as in preceding species. Associated pores located in caudal half of genital double-somite, prolonged with tubular extensions narrowing distally (arrowed in Fig. 10 C). Pore canal penetrating integument obliquely.

Male. Unknown

Figures

FIGURE 5. Moraria catracha sp. nov. A, female habitus, dorsal; B, principal setae of left caudal ramus; C, male habitus, dorsal; D, principal apical setae of right caudal ramus; E, male, rostrum, ventral view; F; male, anal somite and caudal rami, enlarged; G, female, anal somite and caudal rami, enlarged (A – B, E, G: female holotype, RBINSc COP 9944; C – D, F: male

FIGURE 6. Moraria catracha sp. nov. A, antennule outline, ventral view; B, idem, exploded, showing setal armament; C, second and third antennulary segment, dorsal view (setae on ventral side not shown); D, antennule outline; E, antenna; F, maxillule; G, maxilla; H, maxilliped; I, mandible (palp detached) (E, F, I: female holotype, RBINSc COP 9944; A – C, B, G, H: female paratype, RBINSc COP 9945; D: male allotype RBINSc COP 9946).

FIGURE 7. Moraria catracha sp. nov. A, female genital double-somite and abdomal somites, ventral view; B, female, urosome, lateral view; C, leg 1, frontal view; D, leg 1 precoxa, coxa and intercoxal sclerite, caudal view (A – B, D: female holotype, RBINSc COP 9944; C: female paratype, RBINSc COP 9945).

FIGURE 8. Moraria catracha sp. nov. A, leg 2, frontal; B, leg 3, frontal view; C, leg 4, frontal view; D, leg 2 endopodite, opposite side, frontal view; E, leg 2 endopodite, caudal view; F, leg 3 endopodite, caudal view; G, leg 4 endopodite, caudal view; H, idem, frontal view (A, D: female holotype, RBINSc COP 9944; B – C, female paratype, RBINSc COP 9945; E – H, male allotype, RBINSc COP 9946).

FIGURE 9. Moraria catracha sp. nov. A, baseoendopodite of leg 5, caudal view; B, leg 5, frontal view; C, leg 5, frontal view; D, genital and abdomal somites, ventral view; urosome, lateral view (A: female holotype, RBINSc 9944; B, female paratype, RBINSc COP 9945; C – E: male allotype, RBINSc COP 9946).

FIGURE 10. Moraria cusuca sp. nov. A, female, habitus, dorsal view; B, principal apical setae of right caudal ramus; C, genital double-somite and abdomen, ventral view (arrows indicating pair of tubular pore extensions); D, urosome (A – D: female holotype, RBINSc COP 9939).

FIGURE 11. Moraria cusuca sp. nov. A, leg 2, frontal view; B, leg 3, frontal view; C, leg 4, caudal view; D, leg 5, frontal view (A – D: female holotype, RBINSc COP 9939).