Copepodid stages of Ergasilus hypomesi Yamaguti (Copepoda, Poecilostomatoida, Ergasilidae) from a brackish lake in Korea

Abstract

All copepodid stages and free‐swimming adults of Ergasilus hypomesi Yamaguti collected from plankton samples from a brackish lake in Korea are described. The antennule remains a four‐segmented appendage until copepodid V. The antenna of copepodid I carries a vestigial exopod. Sexual dimorphism first appears at copepodid IV whose males bear primodial maxillipeds. Leg 5 also is sexually dimorphic from copepodid IV onwards, with its free segment bearing three setae in the female and two setae in the male. Morphological features of some appendages appearing during copepodid development are discussed. It is noticed that the early copepodids of the Ergasilidae show the characteristic setation on the biramous legs and proximal segments of the antennule.