Records of epacteriscid copepods (Copepoda: Calanoida) from anchialine caves of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, with description of the male of Bofuriella spinosa Fosshagen and Iliffe, 2007

Abstract

ABSTRACT The calanoid copepod family Epacteriscidae is one of the most representative cave-dwelling copepods worldwide, especially in the Caribbean region. We provide new records of two epacteriscid copepods from anchialine habitats of the Yucatan Peninsula (YP); both were previously known only from their type locality in Jamaica and Caicos Islands. We document the occurrence of Edaxiella rubra Fosshagen, Boxshall and Iliffe, 2001 in Cozumel Island and Bofuriella spinosa Fosshagen and Iliffe, 2007 in Playa del Carmen, the adjacent continental region of the YP. We found slight morphological differences compared to the original descriptions of both species, including some characters not previously described; also, the male of B. spinosa remained unknown and is herein described. These records show the growth of the epacteriscid copepod listings and expand the morphological knowledge of these species in the Yucatan Peninsula into the Western Caribbean, likely harboring one of the most diverse anchialine copepod fauna worldwide and currently going through intense anthropogenic pressure, thus enhancing the intrinsic value of these new findings. It is expected that new samplings will reveal the true diversity and distribution of the Mexican Caribbean anchialine copepod fauna, where knowledge of its biological diversity is still incipient.