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<p>It demands much taxonomic expertise to identify harpacticoid copepods, especially those that are very small because of their interstitial lifestyle. Species from the genus <i>Leptastacus</i> Scott T., 1906 (Leptastacidae Lang, 1948), belong to this group of benthic copepods, and <i>Leptastacus laticaudatus</i> Nicholls, 1935 was found to be one of the most abundant species of this genus in the North Sea, often stated to be easily identified by its peculiar, foot-shaped P5 apex. However, recent research involving molecular tools has shown that amongst species of the genus showing this character, there is a surprisingly high genetic variability exceeding typical within-species genetic distances. In this study, we investigate five morphologically highly similar groups of specimens from the genus <i>Leptastacus</i> using a mitochondrial marker (COI) and a nuclear marker (28S) in addition to detailed morphological examinations using not only light microscopy but also confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This resulted in the integrative descriptions of five new species within the genus, supported by molecular and morphological findings, including detailed information on how to distinguish the species, and providing an identification key for morphological identification and an update of the genus diagnosis.</p>

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Revealing high genetic divergence masked by low morphological variability in harpacticoid genus Leptastacus Scott T., 1906 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Leptastacidae) including the description of five new species

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月29日

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  • Seher Kuru,
  • Pedro Martínez Arbizu,
  • Sven Rossel

摘要

It demands much taxonomic expertise to identify harpacticoid copepods, especially those that are very small because of their interstitial lifestyle. Species from the genus Leptastacus Scott T., 1906 (Leptastacidae Lang, 1948), belong to this group of benthic copepods, and Leptastacus laticaudatus Nicholls, 1935 was found to be one of the most abundant species of this genus in the North Sea, often stated to be easily identified by its peculiar, foot-shaped P5 apex. However, recent research involving molecular tools has shown that amongst species of the genus showing this character, there is a surprisingly high genetic variability exceeding typical within-species genetic distances. In this study, we investigate five morphologically highly similar groups of specimens from the genus Leptastacus using a mitochondrial marker (COI) and a nuclear marker (28S) in addition to detailed morphological examinations using not only light microscopy but also confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This resulted in the integrative descriptions of five new species within the genus, supported by molecular and morphological findings, including detailed information on how to distinguish the species, and providing an identification key for morphological identification and an update of the genus diagnosis.