A new species of Schizopera ( Copepoda : Harpacticoida : Miraciidae ) from Colombia Una nueva especie de Schizopera ( Copepoda : Harpacticoida : Miraciidae ) de Colombia

Objective. The present contribution aims at the description of a new species of the genus Schizopera. Materials and methods. Water samples were collected in littoral areas with mangrove and macrophytes, and in the limnetic zone. Twenty five liters of water were taken. Water samples were filtered with a zooplankton net (45μm) and preserved in 70% ethanol. The filtered samples were concentrated to 100 ml and examined in a Bogorov camera. Copepods were separated. Observations and drawings of S. evelynae sp. nov. were made at a magnification of 1000X. Results. Schizopera evelynae sp. nov. seems to be closely related to S. giselae Jiménez -Álvarez 1988 and to S. pratensis Noodt 1958 based on the armature formula of P1-P4, but can be separated from these two species based on the relative length of P1ENP, length/width ratio of P1ENP2, relative length of the outer proximal and distal spines on P4EXP3, shape of the exopod and relative length of the exopodal setae of the female P5, shape and length/width ratio of the male P2ENP2, and male P5 baseoendopodal lobe:exopod length ratio. A key to the species of Schizopera from America is given. Conclusion. A new species of the genus Schizopera is described. The Colombian material shares most characters with S. giselae and S. pratensis.


INTRODUCTION
Harpacticoida is one of the most important groups of meiobenthos.However, the study of this order from Colombian systems, especially those from estuarine environments, has been largely neglected.
The taxonomic position of the genus Schizopera is complex and controversial, and its ecology and phylogenetical relationships have been subject of discussions (17).
The description of a new species of Schizopera and an identification key to the species of Schizopera from America is herein presented.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Study area.Water samples were collected in Laguna Navío Quebrado (Los Flamencos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, Camarones, La Guajira Department, Colombia) from April to December 2012 in littoral areas with mangrove and macrophytes, and in the limnetic zone.
Field methods.Twenty five liters of water were taken using a bucket of 25 L. The water samples were filtered with a zooplankton net (45 µm) and preserved in 70% ethanol.
Analytical methods.The filtered samples were concentrated to 100 ml and examined using a Bogorov camera.Copepods were separated and kept in 70% ethanol.Observations and drawings of S. evelynae sp.nov.were made at a magnification of 1000X from whole and dissected specimens mounted in lactophenol with a Leica compound microscope equipped with phase contrast and a drawing tube.(17).Wells (26) está de acuerdo con la opinión de Karanovic (20) pero considera a Schizoperopsis como un sinónimo de Schizopera.
Se presenta aquí la descripción de una nueva especie y una clave de identificación de las especies de Schizopera de América.
Etymology.The species is named in honor to Dr Evelyn Zoppy de Roa, for her work on zooplankton from Venezuelan systems and for her legacy and leadership of new generations of planktologists.
Maxilliped (Figure 3C).Basis with spinules as shown and armed with 1 subdistal and 2 apical pinnate setae.Endopod 2-segmented; first segment with row of spinules along inner margin and 2 setae; second segment with strong claw and 2 accompanying setae (1 of them very short).
Fuentes-Reinés -A New species Schizopera from Colombia
P1 as in female except for dimorphic inner process of basis (Figure 8B).
P3 as in female, except for the presence of a characteristic inner flattened hyaline spine on the third exopodal segment (Figure 8F).
P4 (not illustrated) as in female.
Baseoendopod with two strong elements ornamented as figured, plus outer seta of basis.

Variability. Female (11 females analyzed).
The left P1ENP 2 of one female was observed to possess one instead of two setae; the left P1ENP 1 of one female lacks the lateral seta.The left P5ENP of two females possess five instead of four setae.Male (11 males analyzed).The right P2ENP 1 of one male was observed to possess a big spine instead of spinules.
Distribution and ecology.Schizopera evelynae sp.nov. is currently known from a single locality This large (surface area of 10.7 km 2 ) lagoon is a shallow water body (depth 0.3-1.1 m), whose temperature varies over the seasons from 28 to 31ºC; pH values during sampling ranged between 7.8 and 8.3.In the surveyed area S. evelynae sp nov.was recorded in both the limnetic region and the vegetation zones (mangroves), being more frequent in the former habitat where salinity was highest (28 PSU).Fourteen species of Harpacticoida were reported in this water body (28).
Unfortunately, the male of S. giselae remains unknown and cannot be compared with the male of S. evelynae sp.nov.
In the following section, an identification key that might prove useful, at least, for preliminary identification of the valid Schizopera species for America, is presented.The key is based on female characters, because the male of S. giselae, S. triacantha, S. californica are unknown.
Desafortunadamente, el macho de S. giselae no se conoce y no puede ser comparado con el macho de S. evelynae sp.nov.
Fuentes-Reinés -A New species Schizopera from Colombia
Genital double-somite fused dorsally and ventrally, with lateral rib indicating former division (Figure1A, B); ventral surface plain, bearing P6, the latter represented by 1 outer short plumose seta and 1 inner long slender element (Figure1B).Dorsal and ventral surface of genital double-somite, fourth and fifth urosomite with spinular pattern as figured (Figure1A, B).Anal somite with semicircular smooth operculum (Figures
giselae and S. pratensis by the relative length of P1Enp 1 (P1ENP 1 being longer that the exopod in S. evelynae, but as long as exopod in S. pratensis and S. giseale); length/width ratio of P1ENP 2 (about 1.4 in S. evelynae sp.nov.and 2.4 and 3 in S. giselae and S. pratensis, respectively).The anal operculum of S. evelynae sp.nov. is similar to that of S. pratensis, but differs from that of S. giselae in the setular ornamentation (with two rows of setules in S. giselae, but smooth in S. evelynae sp.nov.and S. pratensis).Also, the outer proximal and distal spines on the P4EXP 3 are different in length in S. evelynae sp.nov., and S. pratensis, but these outer spines are of the same length in S. giselae.S. evelynae sp.nov., but 1.3 times as long as wide in S. pratensis), in the baseoendopodal lobe:exopod length ratio (longer than the exopod in S. evelynae sp.nov., but both rami of about the same length in S. pratensis) .