New species of epacteriscids (Copepoda, Calanoida) from anchialine caves in the Caicos Islands and the Bahamas
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abstract
One new monotypic genus, Caiconectes, and one new species in each of the genera Azygonectes and Bofuriella are described from the Caicos Islands. In the Bahamas, a third new species of Bofuriella is described from Cat Island and the hitherto unknown female of Minnonectes melodactylus Fosshagen & Iliffe is recorded from Great Exuma Island. Caiconectes shows many plesiomorphic features, with some slight reductions in mouthparts, probably related to raptorial feeding. Swimming legs show maximum segmentation and setation; leg 1 has long and thin outer setae on the exopod, and the third segment of the endopod bears seven setae. The species is considered pelagic. The first male specimen of Azygonectes is described from A. plumosus sp. nov.; in both sexes, caudal seta V on the left side is approximately 2.5 times body length. The single female specimen of Bofuriella spinosa sp. nov. from Cat Island differs from other congeners in having a lateral genital aperture on the left side, and more setae on the mandibular endopod and on the coxal and basal endites of the maxillule. All cave calanoids hitherto described from the Caicos Islands are not recorded from any other parts of the Caribbean; thus pointing to an isolated position of the islands. 2007 Taylor & Francis.
