First representatives of the genus Fierscyclops Karanovic, 2004 (Copepoda, Cyclopidae) from South East Asia

Abstract

We describe two new species of the genus Fierscyclops Karanovic, 2004, F. tanaosriensis n. sp. and F. solaris n. sp. from western Thailand, which are also the first records of this genus in Southeast (SE) Asia (and also Asia). The two new species share several characters such as: i) presence of lateral sensillum on the caudal ramus in both females and males; ii) one-segmented swimming leg 5 (P5) inserted on the lateral corner of the thoracic somite 5; iii) free segment of P5 with two elements (spine and seta), apical inner spine is robust, insertion distance between the apical spine and apical seta is relatively large; iv) swimming legs 1-4 (P1-P4) rami are two-segmented; v) distal segment of endopod (Endp2) of P4 has two apical spines; vi) spine and seta formula of distal segment of exopod (Exp2) of P1-P4 are 3.4.4.3 and 5.5.5.5, respectively; vii) coxobasis and Endp2 of the antenna have two and 10 setae, respectively. The two new species differ from the Australian type-species of the genus F. fiersi (De Laurentiis, Pesce & Humphreys, 2001) in: i) setation of the antenna; ii) longer inner apical spine on P5; iii) relatively longer genital double-somite in female; iv) relatively shorter caudal rami; v) presence of lateral sensillum on the caudal ramus in both females and males. The Thai species differ from one another in: i) ornamentation of the body integument; ii) shape of the posterior margin of the thoracic somite 2; iii) spinule ornamentation of the syncoxa of the maxilliped; iv) shape of the medial expansion of P2-P4 basis in females.