Publication Date:
2024-01-12
Description:
Four previously unknown hypogean species of cyclopoid copepods were collected in cenotes and wells of the Yucat\xc3\xa1n Peninsula, Mexico. Diacyclops chakan sp. n. and D. puuc sp. n. differ from their congeners in combining 3-segmented swimming legs, 11-segmented antennules, and legs 1-4 endopodite segment 2 all with 2 setae. Species of Diacyclops rarely occur in tropical regions, and the Diacyclops described here are only the second and third species recorded from Mexico. The benthic D. puuc was found in the large underground reservoir of a cenote. Diacyclops chakan was encountered in such large open subterranean water basins, but more frequently and abundantly in wells.\nThe two Mesocyclops species, M. chaci sp. n. and M. yutsil sp. n., most closely resemble their epigean benthic congener M. reidae Petkovski, but are modified by loss of some body ornament and attenuation of swimming legs and mouthparts. Mesocyclops chaci sp. n. occupies crevicular spaces (wells and small caverns). The second species, M. yutsil sp. n., with more pronounced attenuation of legs, has a planktonic life in large subterranean water volumes. The extremely attenuated appendages of both species distinguish them from all other Mesocyclops, and resemble those of the hypogean Kieferiella delamarei Lescher-Moutou\xc3\xa9. These three species are considered as a species-flock which have radiated as specialists within a highly dynamic geomorphological environment.
Keywords:
Diacyclops
;
Mesocyclops
;
Copepoda
;
Cyclopoida
;
biogeography
;
evolution
;
hypogean
;
karst
;
species-flock
;
taxonomy
;
Mexico
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
Permalink
