First deep-sea record of the genus Kliopsyllus Kunz, 1962 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) with the description of Kliopsyllus diva sp n. -: the most abundant member of Paramesochridae at two different sites of the Angola Basin

Two of the sites sampled during the DIVA-1 cruise (Meteor 48/1) to the Angola Basin in 2000 have been studied intensively in order to highlight the diversity of meiofauna in this deep-sea region. This work contributes to the final aim to describe the species of the community of harpacticoid copepods in the Angola Basin and adds a new member to the few hitherto known deep-sea Paramesochridae. The new species belongs to the genus Kliopsyllus, until now only reported from beaches, the intertidal and shallow waters and thus thought to be representing a mainly interstitial group. Furthermore, Kliopsyllus diva sp. n. is the dominating paramesochrid copepod at the two studied sites with depths of more than 5400m. Among other features, K. diva sp. n. is unique in the armature of its fourth leg, the presence of hedgehog-like arranged spinules on the exopod of the fifth leg and the relation of length and width of its furcal rami. (c) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.