New Record of Oncaea prendeli (Copepod, Cyclopoida, Oncaeidae) in Korean Waters

Abstract

Oncaea prendeli Shmeleva, 1966 is redescribed here based on a specimen collected using a fine-mesh net in the epipelagic layer in the south sea of Jeju Island, Korea. The Korean specimen is generally similar to Mediterranean specimens in terms of morphological characteristics, but it shows a few minor differences in a slightly larger length-to-width ratio for the distal endopod segment of the antenna, a relatively shorter caudal seta IV, and additional ornamentation on the maxillule and maxilla. This species is distinguishable from the most similar congeneric species, O. tregoubovi Shmeleva, 1968, and three species of the genus Spinoncaea Böttger-Schnack, 2003 by the distal and lateral armature of the antenna, ornamentation on the female maxilliped, spine number on the endopod of leg 2, and proportional length of setae on the caudal ramus. Moreover, spine lengths on the exopods of legs 2–4 are proposed as new morphological characters for the identification of congeners. This is the first record of O. prendeli in Korean waters.