Harpacticoid copepods in Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Abstract

The diversity of Harpacticoida in Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (SERS) has still been overlooked. According to the sampling of copepod in SERS in September 2013 and January 2014, five harpacticoid species, including Phyllognathopus viguieri, Elaphoidella bidens decorata, E. namnaoensis, Elaphoidella sp.1, and Elaphoidella sp.2, were collected by a plankton net with 60 ??m mesh size. The Thai Phyllognathopus viguieri is slightly different from the supplementary description of the species in the ornamentation of anal operculum and feature of posterolateral seta on caudal ramus of the female. E. bidens decorata is also different from their original descriptions. Elaphoidella sp.1 and Elaphoidella sp.2 are most morphologically similar to E. intermedia and E. longipedis, respectively, but, the lack of male specimen of E. intermedia and the structural difference of exopod of fifth leg of Elaphoidella sp.2 preclude assigning them as the mentioned species.

Keywords: mountainous area, freshwater harpacticoids, Nakhon Ratchasima