Kanikulath, N.V., N..B. Sivasankaran, R. Radhakrishnan &V.F. Sanu [Neelima, Bijoy Nandan, Radhika]. (2022). Taxonomic Revision of Epiphytic Copepod Metis jousseaumei Richard, 1892 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Metidae) From Kavaratti Island Southeastern Arabian Sea. Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences. 38(2):1-15. Mar 2022.
Taxonomic Revision of Epiphytic Copepod Metis jousseaumei Richard, 1892 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Metidae) From Kavaratti Island Southeastern Arabian Sea.
Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences
38(2):1-15. Mar 2022
Publication
1. Neelima Vasu K - Kanikulath (surname) 2. S. Bijoy Nandan - Sivasankaran (surname) 3. R. Radhika - Radhakrishnan (surname)
Available for editors
Epiphytic Metis jousseaumei (Richard JM, 1892) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Metidae) is redescribed considering the male and female specimens collected from the coral lagoon of Kavaratti Island along the Southwestern coast of India. The identification of M. jousseaumei is hampered due to inadequate description and lack of overall taxonomic revision. Therefore, M. jousseaumei is being redescribed for the first time based on several distinguishing characters along with the existing ones, with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. In females, the marginal rows of conical spinules on the dorsal surface of the first antennular segment; the absence of outer setae on the second endopodal segments of leg 3 and 4 and the presence of eight robust setae on the ventral region of leg 5 were the predominant characers. In males, the presence of a thumb shaped anntenular first segment, carrying small comb like spinules on the first antennular segment; two long tubular aesthetascs on the third and fourth segment; and the presence of small curved conical projection on basis of fifth leg. All 13 species of the genus Metis that are presently recognized globally are evaluated in this paper, which includes taxonomic, zoogeographical, and ecological information. A dichotomous key to the species of M. jousseaumei is provided as well. The information presented in this article would shed light to the hitherto untouched harpacticoid taxonomy of Lakshadweep islands, a hotspot in Indian Ocean and will aid future harpacticoid taxonomists in their capacity building.
