First record of Caromiobenella helgolandica (Claus, 1863) (Copepoda, Monstrilloida) from the Saudi waters of the Arabian Gulf

Abstract

Caromiobenella helgolandica (Claus, 1863), a presumedly widespread monstrilloid copepod, is reported for the first time from Saudi waters of the Arabian Gulf; only females were found in zooplankton samples collected from Tarut Bay in the Arabian Gulf. Caromiobenella Jeon, Lee, & Soh, 2018 is a recently described genus that is distinguished by having modified male antennules. The nauplii of monstrilloid copepods are endoparasitic on molluscs and polychaetes, while the adults are free-living reproductive forms. This study is an unprecedented record of C. helgolandica from the Arabian Gulf region.

Keywords

• Antennule
• monospecificity
• oral papilla
• ovigerou