New species of Eurycletodes Sars, 1909 and odiliacletodes soyer, 1964 from the deep Gulf of California (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Argestidae)

Abstract

To date, three species of the family Ancorabolidae, three species of the family Argestidae, and one species of the family Rhizothrichidae are known from the deep sea of the Gulf of California. The descriptions of two new species, Eurycletodes paraephippiger sp. n. and Odiliacletodes secundus sp. n. collected from the Southern Trough of Guaymas Basin at 1440 m and 1642 m depths, respectively, are presented herein. The closest relatives of these two species, E. ephippiger Por, 1964 and O. gracilis Soyer, 1964 are known from the Mediterranean, but some relatives have been reported also from the southern Atlantic. Eurycletodes paraephippiger sp. n. is undoubtedly related to E. ephippiger Por, 1964 known from Israel and Banyulssur-Mer (France). These two species can be separated by the armature complement of the basis of the maxillule, by the armature complement of the syncoxa of the maxilliped, and by the relative position of the anal operculum. Odiliacletodes secundus sp. n. showed to be closely related to O. gracilis Soyer, 1964 known from Banyuls-sur-Mer only. The latter two species can be separated by the armature complement of the syncoxa of the maxilliped, by the structure of the antenna, and by the inner armature complement of the third exopodal segment of the fourth swimming leg.