Disentangling the subgeneric division of Arenopontia Kunz, 1937: resurrection of Psammoleptastacus Pennak, 1942, re-examination of Neoleptastacus spinicaudatus Nicholls, 1945, and proposal of two new genera and a new generic classification (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Arenopontiidae)

Abstract

A new generic classification is proposed for the 32 valid species of the interstitial marine family Arenopontiidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida), primarily based on new observations of type species and reliable descriptions from the literature. The subgeneric division of Arenopontia Kunz, 1937 is abolished, and both Arenopontia and Neoleptastacus Nicholls, 1945 are upgraded to full generic rank. Arenopontia is restricted to the subterranea group, comprising Arenopontia subterranea Kunz, 1937 (type), Arenopontia problematica Masry, 1970, Arenopontia nesaie Cottarelli, 1975, and Arenopontia riedli Lindgren, 1976. The doubtful status of both Arenopontia pontica Apostolov, 1969 and recent Egyptian records of A. nesaie is discussed, and the alleged cosmopolitanism of A. subterranea is reviewed. Arenopontia is characterized by the unique morphology of the P1 (prehensile endopod, armature of distal segments of exopod and endopod). The genus Psammoleptastacus Pennak, 1942 is reinstated to accommodate Psammoleptastacus arenaridus Pennak, 1942 (type), Arenopontia stygia Noodt, 1955 and Psammoleptastacus barani sp. nov. The latter is described from the Turkish Black Sea coast, and had previously been identified as A. stygia in Bulgarian waters. The species identified as A. subterranea by Rao & Ganapati in 1969 is considered species inquirenda in Psammoleptastacus. Neoleptastacus is resurrected to accommodate all arenopontiids that have an inner spinous process on the P5. The Chilean species Arenopontia clasingi Mielke, 1985, Arenopontia pacifica Mielke, 1985, and Arenopontia spicata Mielke, 1985 are transferred to Neoleptastacus. The genus Pararenopontia Bodiou & Colomines, 1986 is considered a junior synonym of Neoleptastacus, with its type species Pararenopontia breviarticulata (Mielke, 1975) being relegated to species incertae sedis in this genus. The monotypic genus Mesopontia gen. nov. is established to accommodate Arenopontia dillonbeachia Lang, 1965, which holds an intermediate position between Arenopontia and Neoleptastacus. Material from Puget Sound identified as Arenopontia spinicaudata (Nicholls, 1945) by Chappuis in 1958 is attributed to Mesopontia dillonbeachia comb. nov.Psammoleptastacus orientalis Krishnaswamy, 1957, Arenopontia intermedia Rouch, 1964, and Arenopontia peteraxi Mielke, 1982 are transferred to a new genus, Onychopontia gen. nov., together with Onychopontia nichollsi sp. nov. (type), which was discovered among type material of Neoleptastacus spinicaudatus Nicholls, 1945. Redescriptions are given for A. nesaie, P. arenaridus, N. spinicaudatus, and M. dillonbeachia. A key to the five arenopontiid genera as well as keys (or comparative tables) to the species of Arenopontia, Onychopontia, Mesopontia, and the spinicaudatus lineage of Neoleptastacus are provided. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 152, 409–458.

Interstitial harpacticoid (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) fauna inhabiting mediolittoral zone of the Gulf of Saros (Turkey)

“…List of harpacticoids and their localities determined in these study and comparison with the previous records from Turkey. A: Noodt [8], B: Karaytuğ & Huys [25], C: Huys et al [26], D: Karaytuğ & Sak [27], E: Sak et al [28], F: Pulat et al [29], G: Alper et al [22], H: Sönmez et al [30], I: Kaymak et al [31], J: Sönmez et al [32], K: Köroğlu et al [33], L: Alper et al [34], M: Sönmez et al [35], N: Karaytuğ & Koçak [11], O: Yıldız & Karaytuğ [12], P: Sönmez et al [36], Q: Alper et al [13]. ---------- ---------- ).…”

Biga Yarımadası (Çanakkale, Türkiye) mediolitoral bölgesinin kumiçi ve fital Harpacticoid (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) faunası

“…Distribution in Turkey: Aegean Sea [37,38], Black Sea [20]. Distribution in Turkey: Aegean Sea [30,37,38], The Black Sea [18].…”

“…Karaytuğ and Sak [17] recorded 37 species and 1 subspecies belonging to 21 families from the Aegean and Sea of Marmara coasts of Balıkesir province. Psammoleptastcus barani was described from the Black Sea coast (Sahilköy/Istanbul) [18]. Sak et al [19] reported the first record of Pseudoleptomesochrella halophila in Turkey from the coasts of Bartın and Kastamonu and presented the redescription of the genus Pseudoleptomesochrella.…”