Two new species of Cerviniella Smirnov, 1946 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Aegisthidae) from the Yellow Sea, Korea

Abstract

Two new species, Cerviniella bisegmenta sp. nov. and C. permixta sp. nov., are described in detail with illustrations based on females from the Korean Yellow Sea. These species lacking the fourth leg endopod belong to the mirabilipes group, one of two species groups within the genus Cerviniella Smirnov, 1946. Both species can be distinguished from each other by the surface ornamentation of the cephalothorax, shape of the rostrum tip, antennule segments, armature formula of thoracic legs 1–4, and length ratio of the caudal rami. Cerviniella bisegmenta sp. nov. is characterized by a short caudal ramus and a two-segmented antennary exopod, which are unique within the genus. Cerviniella permixta sp. nov. differs from other congeners of the mirabilipes group by the seven-segmented antennule, the armature formulae of the exopod of the antenna and thoracic legs 1–4, and the modified apical inner element of the second endopodal segment of the second leg. The present study is the first to identify the genus Cerviniella in Korean waters, resulting in extension of its distribution area to East Asia.