Phylogeny of Canthocamptidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) based on the morphology of antennae and mouthparts

Abstract

The plesiomorphic state of mouthparts and antennae, both characterized by dense setation and numerous spine groups, was described in a hypothetical common ancestor of all canthocamptids. This is the first time that canthocamptids have been subjected to a comparative analysis based on not only segmentation and ornamentation of their appendages, but also on spinular ornamentation. All data were entered into a matrix with 131 characters. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred in PAUP 4.0: a total of 41 species were divided into several major clades – Cletocamptus, Hemimesochrinae, Mesochra + Heteropsyllus, Itunella + Taurocletodes, Canthocamptinae + Morariinae. In general, the results obtained coincided with the available molecular genetic data. In the Canthocamptinae + Morariinae clade, Canthocamptus and Bryocamptus were supported as the sister genera. However, some genera were deemed to be non-monophyletic and, therefore, should be separated: Cletocamptus, Mesochra, possibly Attheyella, Bryocamptus, Moraria.

Keywords

• canthocamptidae
• cladistics
• phylogeny
• freshwater copepoda
• attheyella
• mesochra
• cletocamptus