C O M P A R A T IV E M O R P H O L O G Y O F T H E F A M IL Y
L A O P H O N T ID A E (C O P E P O D A : H A R P A C T IC O ID A )
by
F.
FIERS
Recent Invertebrates Section
Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen
Vautierstraat 29, B-1040 Brussels (Belgium)
The Laophontidae is a large harpacticoid family, distributed in marine environ­
ments over the entire world. The description of new genera and species in recent years,
has raised some questions on the homogeneity of the family. The comparative study of
(1) the habitus, (2) the appendages, (3) the integument and (4) the distribution, however,
produce the necessary criteria for a revision of laophontid taxonomy. The extremely
diversified habitus of laophontids, reflects the phylogenetic relationships on generic and
specific level. Special attention is paid to the structure of the antennule. Its shape,
neglected in harpacticoid taxonomy, allows the discrimination of different groups. In
the thoracic appendages sexual dimorphism remains a major characteristic, but the
degiee of reduction in the segmentation of the legs seems to be less important than
generally accepted. The comparison of the integumental structures in widely distributed
species shows that these structures are useful characteristics in specific discrimination.
A N E PH R O C ER U S S P E C IE S , N E W T O SC IE N C E ,
F R O M B E L G IU M (D IP T E R A , P IP U N C U L ID A E )
by
P. GROOTAERT
Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen
and
M. DE M E Y E R
Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen
Due to more intensive sampling with Malaise traps, a new Nephrocerus species was
found in two localities in Belgium. It is closely related to N . scutellatus Macquart but
distinct from the latter by yellow maculations on abdomen, proportion of third antennal
segment to height of eyes, slight differences in male genitalia, bristling of female abdomen
and smaller body size.
M E I O F A U N A O F A D E E P -S E A T R A N S E C T O FF C O R S IC A
by
K . SO E TA E R T, C. H E IP and M. V IN C X
Marine Biology Section, Zoology Institute
State University of Ghent (Belgium)
In September 1982 six stations (175 m, 305 m, 540 m. 805 m, 1020 m, 1605 m) in
a transect were sampled with a Reineck box-corer off the west coast of Corsica, near
42° 40' N and 8° 4 0 'E. Undisturbed samples were obtained from which two replicates
were taken for faunal analysis and one for analysis of sediments.
Total density of the meiofauna varied between 94 and 444 ind./10 cm2, with a
significant decrease with depth (based on A n o v a on untransformed data). Nearly all
organisms were found in the upper 2 cm of the sediment at all deeper stations. Nematodes
dominate at all stations, with between 86 % and 97 °/o of the total meiofauna, foraminiferans excluded.