Description of a new species of the genus Laophontodes T. Scott (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Ancorabolidae) from Udo Island, South Korea

Abstract

A new species of the genus Laophontodes T. Scott, 1894 is described from intertidal coarse sand sediments of Udo Island, Korea. Among 13 valid species of Laophontodes, this new species is very similar to L. bicornis A. Scott, 1896 and L. horstgeorgei George and Ghreerardyn, 2015 in having a pair of wing-like structure on the cephalothorax posteriorly and two inner setae on the distal exopodal segment of the third and fourth legs. However, Laophotodes n. sp. is distinguishable from L. bicornis by the absence of outer seta on the second endopodal segment of the third leg and the genital-double somite having a distinct furrow on the outer margin, and also differs from L. horstgeorgei by the presence of windows onthe dorsal surface of three free pedigerous prosomites and the shape of wing-like structure on the cephalothorax. Moreover, the new species is uniquely characterized by a tube pore on the second endopodal segment of the third leg in the male. This paper presents the description of Laophontodes n. sp. with detailed illustrations of the morphological characters. We also provide a key to the species of Laophontodes.rstgeorgei George and Ghreerardyn, 2015 in having a pair of wing-like structure on the cephalothorax posteriorly and two inner setae on the distal exopodal segment of the third and fourth legs. However, Laophotodes n. sp. is distinguishable from L. bicornis by the absence of outer seta on the second endopodal segment of the third leg and the genital-double somite having a distinct furrow on the outer margin, and also differs from L. horstgeorgei by the presence of windows onthe dorsal surface of three free pedigerous prosomites and the shape of wing-like structure on the cephalothorax. Moreover, the new species is uniquely characterized by a tube pore on the second endopodal segment of the third leg in the male. This paper presents the description of Laophontodes n. sp. with detailed illustrations of the morphological characters. We also provide a key to the species of Laophontodes.