laophontid

Huys, Rony, 2009, On the junior subjective synonyms of Coullia Hamond, 1973 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae): an and key to species and related genera, ZooKeys 5 (5), pp. 33-40 : 38-39

Key to laophontid genera with reduced P2 endopod

There are no published descriptions of male Coullia [sensu Hamond (1973)], but referring to personal observations of several undescribed species of Coullia, Fiers (1992a) confirmed that the sexual dimorphism in the P3 endopod and the armature pattern in the male P5 are exactly the same as in Hemilaophonte and Phycolaophonte . Fiers (1992a–b), Lee and Huys (1999) and, more recently, Gómez and Boyko (2006), recognized a close relationship between Coullia , Phycolaophonte , Hemilaophonte , Robustunguis Fiers, 1992 and Psammoplatypus Lee & Huys, 1999 , based on the reduced P2 endopod (smaller than P3 endopod), the swimming leg sexual dimorphism (P3 endopod ♁) and the ovate shape of the female P5 exopod. McCormack (2006) added a new genus Carraroenia McCormack, 2006 which appears to be most basal in this lineage. The five genera currently recognized in this lineage can be differentiated as follows:

1 P1 excessively enlarged with arched claw; reaching to posterior end of caudal rami; equivalent to about two-thirds of body length ............... Robustunguis

– P1 not excessively enlarged ......................................................................... 2

2 P4 exp-2 with inner seta in both sexes; ♁ P3 endopod 3-segmented........... 3

P4 exp-2 without inner seta in both sexes; ♁ P3 endopod 2-segmented......4

3 P2 exp-2 with inner seta; P3 exp-3 with 6 setae/spines; P5 exopod ♀ with 6 elements.................................................................................... Carraroenia

– P2 exp-2 without inner seta; P3 exp-3 with 5 setae/spines; P5 exopod ♀ with 4 elements.......................................................................... Psammoplatypus

4 P4 exopod 2-segmented....................................................... Hemilaophonte

– P4 exopod 3-segmented.................................................................... Coullia