Markhaseva E.L.1, Bradford-Grieve J.M.2, Renz J.3 2017. New records of the rare benthopelagic genera Comantenna Wilson, 1924 and Crassantenna Cole, Green, Howcroft et Rawlins, 1972 (Copepoda: Calanoida: Aetideidae) from the North Pacific abyss // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.26. No.1: 25–34 [in English].

1 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia. E-mail: markhaseva@yahoo.com

2 National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Private Bag 14901, Wellington 6241, New Zealand.

3 Senckenberg Research Institute, German Center for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany.

KEY WORDS: Copepoda, Calanoida, Comantenna, Crassantenna, benthopelagic, North Pacific, abyss.

ABSTRACT. Rare benthopelagic aetideid copepods Crassantenna comosa Bradford, 1969 and Comantenna crassa Bradford, 1969, previously known only from their holotypes off New Zealand, South Pacific, are found for the first time in the abyss in the vicinity of the Kurile Kamchatka Trench, North Pacific. Minor morphological differences were observed between the North and South Pacific specimens of both species. Evidence of intraspecific variability was observed among the 31 specimens of C. crassa: spermathecae were bent at various obtuse angles, there was variability in the degree of fusion of antennule ancestral segments IV–VII; the maxilliped coxal sensory appendage had a range of lengths, and the P5 was present or absent. The genus Crassantenna, as Cr. comosa, is recorded for the first time in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean and minor differences from the holotype are assumed to represent intraspecific variation until more specimens are examined for evidence of variability.

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