The occurrence of blue-pigmented Pontella valida Dana, 1852 (Copepoda: Calanoida: Pontellidae) in the equatorial Indian Ocean

Abstract

A rare community of zooplankton, dominated by calanoid copepods of the family Pontellidae, was found living at the ocean surface in the open equatorial Indian Ocean during the summer monsoon of 2014. Bright blue-pigmented calanoid copepods, Pontella valida Dana, 1852, were found co-occurring with non-pigmented calanoids and blue-pigmented planktonic hydrozoans (Porpita sp.). This is the first report of blue-colored Pontella valida, a species that was previously been known without pigment. It is likely that this blue pigmentation is related to protection against harmful UV radiation, as has been previously shown in other pontellid copepods.