The First Record of a Species of Clausiidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from Japanese Waters, with the Proposal of a New Genus

Abstract

A new genus and species of clausiid copepod (Cyclopoida), Oshoroclausia shibazakii n. g. n. sp., is described based on a single female collected subtidally in Oshoro Bay, on the western coast of Hokkaido, the Sea of Japan. Oshoroclausia is characterized by the following feature of female: elongate body lacking distinct segmentation from first pedigerous to the anal somite, 2-segmented antenna with two terminal claws, and legs 1 to 4 bearing 2-segmented rami. This is the first record of a clausiid copepod from Japanese waters.