First record of Phyllognathopus bassoti Rouch, 1972 from India, with remarks on the family Phyllognathopodidae Gurney, 1932 (Crustacea, Copepoda, Harpacticoida)

Abstract

Phyllognathopus bassoti Rouch, 1972, originally described from Long Island, Papua New Guinea, and later reported from the Philippines, is found for the first time in India. This subterranean species is redescribed and its ecology and zoogeography are discussed. Also, the systematics of the family Phyllognathopodidae is discussed and a key to genera and species is given. As a result of the taxonomic analysis, three species are here synonymized: Phyllognathopus insularis Chappuis, 1940 and P. camptoides Bozic, 1965 with P. chappuisi Delachaux, 1924; and P. volcanicus Barclay, 1969 with P. viguieri (Maupas, 1892). It has been observed that odonate nymphs prey on adults and copepodids of P. bassoti, an interaction not known until now.