Two New species of the Genus Idyella Sars, 1905 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Sublittoral Habitats of South Korea

Abstract

Two species of Idyella that is a small harpacticoid genus comprising only seven valid species were found in sublittoral sediment samples taken from islands of South Korea. In the present study, we propose the erection of two new species, Idyella n. sp. 1. and Idyella n. sp. 2 based on the morphological differences in the female genital double-somite, antennary exopod, mandibular rami, the first leg, and the female fifth leg from congeners. Idyella n. sp. 1 and Idyella kunzi Bodin, 1968 share the presence of three inner setae on the distal endopodal segment of first leg, but they can be readily distinguished by the shape of the fifth legs exopod. Idyella n. sp. 2 seems to be closed to Idyella majorSars, 1921 in the body shape and setation of thoracic legs, but the new species differs from the latter in the shapes of antennule, first endopod of first leg, and baseoendopod of fifth leg in females. This study is the first report of the family Idyanthidae Lang, 1948 from Korean waters.