First Record of Paramenophia platysoma (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Thalestridae) from Korea, with Notes on the Morphology of the Genus

Abstract

Paramenophia platysoma (Thompson and Scott, 1903) is newly reported from Korean waters based on the materials collected from several seagrass and algal bed habitats. The Korean materials of P. platysoma in the present study coincide well with the original description of the species with respects to the characteristic features of the first, fourth, and fifth legs, and in most respects to P. platysoma sensu Gamô (1969) reported from Japan except for the antennary exopod. However, they show some differences to P. platysoma sensu Pallares (1973, 1975) reported in Argentina, in terms of the morphology of the fifth leg in females and the second leg in males. Detailed description and illustrations of P. platysoma are provided for both sexes. The morphological features of Paramenophia species are discussed and a key to the species of genus is provided.