A new species of the genus Tropodiaptomus (Copepoda, Diaptomidae, Diaptominae) from Nepal

Abstract

A new species, Tropodiaptomus defayeae n. sp. from Nepal, is herein proposed for inclusion in the genus Tropodiaptomus. This is the first record of the genus from Nepal. The new species is described and illustrated based on two males and two females collected from a permanent freshwater pond in the village Ankidha near Khatmandu, Nepal. A critical comparison of the new species with its known congeners has revealed close similarity with Tropodiaptomus ruttneri (Brehm, 1923). However, it is distinguishable by characters of the male P5 such as: (1) a thick basipod in the right P5, which is as long as wide, and has an unusually large thumb-like hyaline lobe close to the inner margin on its posterior face; (2) a small spine and a narrow hyaline lamella on the inner margin; and (3) the basipod of the left P5 has a large hyaline lamella on the inner distal margin. Besides the description of T. defayeae, brief notes on the ecology and zoogeography of the genus are also given. A key for the identification of the Indian species of Tropodiaptomus, including also the new species, is provided at the end of this paper.