New Cumacean Records in the Italian Marine Waters (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to share more information about cumacean crustaceans, specifically their presence, biogeographical distribution, and preferred sediment type in the Italian Seas. Samples were collected on the soft bottom at different sites, ranging from 3 to 158 m in depth, from 2001 to 2021. The specimens collected represented a total of 29 species belonging to 5 families (Bodotriidae, Leuconidae, Nannastacidae, Diastylidae, and Pseudocumatidae). The results were compared with the most recent Italian fauna checklists and the available scientific literature on this group.

Keywords

• macrozoobenthos
• cumacea
• soft bottom
• biogeography
• ecology