Presencia de Notodiaptomus maracaibensis Kiefer, 1954 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Calanoida, Diaptomidae) en una charca temporal al norte de Colombia

Abstract

The freshwater Neotropical planktonic copepod Notodiaptomus maracaibensis Kiefer, 1954 was found in a small temporal pond in northern La Guajira. Hitherto, it has been reported in Venezuela and Colombia, mainly in the Caribbean region. This is the first documented, illustrated record confirming its presence in Colombia and La Guajira department.  Our specimens from La Guajira, have the combination of diagnostic features of N. maracaibensis as reported in both the original description and subsequent taxonomical accounts, including: 1) segment 15 of male right antennule lacking spinous process, 2)  inner margin of male right P5 basipodite smooth, 3) male right P5 endopod short, 4) male right P5 exopod 2 almost 2.5 times as long as wide; 5) lateral spine of male P5 exopod2  inserted subdistally; 6)  lateral wings of female pediger 5 asymmetrical, 7) inner margin of  female  lateral wings with a spinules row ,  8) left lateral wing with both sensilla inserted closer to each other than on right wing; 9) female genital double-somite 1.5 times as long as wide, 10) both sensilla of genital double-somite arranged perpendicularly to body axis. In Colombia, Notodiaptomus maracaibensis superficially resembles N. henseni, also reported from Colombia; these two species can easily be confused; we provide key morphological details to distinguish these species in Colombia.  A key to the species of Notodiaptomus found in Colombia is also provided.