Centropages australiensis
Centropages australiensis Fairbridge, 1944
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Taxonomy
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Crustacea |
| Class | Maxillopoda |
| Subclass | Copepoda |
| Order | Calanoida |
| Family | Centropagidae |
| Genus | Centropages |
| Species | australiensis |
Size
- Male: 1.32 mm
- Female: 1.43 mm
Distinguishing characteristics
- Small to medium size, square-like cephalosome
- Cephalosome and 1st pedigerous somite are fused (fusion lines visible on sides)
- Single naupliar eye
- Lateral corners of posterior prosome ends in spine
- Characteristic undulating edge on last prosomal somite between spine and urosome
- Female P5 biramous, exopod segment 2 with a strong, inner spine-like process
- Female urosome usually 3-segmented, often with spines, without seminal receptacle
Male
- One side of right A1 typically thickened along part of length
- Sharp points on posterior corners of prosome asymmetrical
- Right P5 with slightly curved spur on inner margin of exopod segment 2, outer apical margin furrowed
- Right P5 exopod segment 3 is pointed with furrowed inner margin, distinct spine on inner margin and minute spinule on outer margin
- Caudal rami twice as long as wide
Female
- Spine on left prosome corner reaches to end of genital somite, spine on right side reaches to the middle of genital somite
- A1 exceeds caudal rami by 2 segments
- Genital somite almost symmetrical, with 2 small spines
- Second urosome somite asymmetric, left side slightly swollen, right side with spine
- Caudal rami symmetrical, twice as long as wide
(Bradford-Grieve 1994, Boxshall and Halsey, 2004, Taw 1978)
Distribution
- Epipelagic
- Inshore coastal and coastal waters
- Southern Australian distribution, particularly along eastern seaboard
Ecology
- Produces distinctive spiny eggs
- Eggs can diapause in sediments to avoid unfavourable conditions
- Females often observed with 2 or more spermatophores attached
- Omnivorous
References
- Boxshall, G. A. and S. H. Halsey (2004). "An introduction to copepod diversity." Ray Society Publications 166: i-xv, 1-966.
- Bradford-Grieve, J. M. (1994). The marine fauna of New Zealand: Pelagic Copepoda: Megacalanidae, Calanidae, Paracalanidae, Mecynoceridae, Eucalanidae, Spinocalanidae, Clausocalanidae. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Conway DVP, White, R.G., Hugues-Dit-Ciles, J., Gallienne, C.P. and Robins, D.B. (2003) Guide to the coastal and surface zooplankton of the south-western Indian Ocean, Vol Occasional Publications No. 15. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
- Taw, N.@(1978). Some common components of the zooplankton of the southeastern coastal waters of Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 112: 69-136.
- Vervoort, W. (1957). Copepods from Antarctic and sub-Antarctic plankton samples. Report from the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition 3: 1-160.