Redescription of Penicillicaris pectinimana (Car, 1884) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Parastenheliidae)

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to conduct a taxonomic revision of Penicillicaris pectinimana living in the mediolittoral zone of Türkiye. Therefore, numerous specimens of both sexes collected from Mediterranean (25 localities), Aegean (9 localities) and the Black Sea (10 localities) coasts were morphologically reexamined in detail for the first time with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopes. Hundreds of individuals belonging to Penicillicaris pectinimana populations collected from different localities were comparatively analysed in terms of inter/intra population variability. In the light of the data obtained in this study, it was revealed that Penicillicaris pectinimana has very wide distribution in Turkish coasts and it is found in all localities (except one) examined. All possible morphological details of both sexes of Penicillicaris pectinimana were redescribed for the first time in detail since it was described in 1884.