First record of the Calanoid Copepod Pseudodiaptomus serricaudatus (Scott, T. 1894), (Copepoda: Calanoida: Pseudodiaptomidae) in the equatorial Indian ocean.

Abstract

Pseudodiaptomus serricaudatus (Scott, T. 1894), a planktonic copepod belonging to the family Pseudodiaptomidae, though has worldwide distribution, has been reported only from estuarine and coastal waters. This is the first report of the occurrence of demersal calanoid copepod, P.serricaudatus in the open oceanic waters of the Equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO; 4ºN, 77ºE). This species, collected during September 2010, was found to be one of the most abundant copepods with a density of 113 ind·m¯3. We suggest that this species might have advected from the estuarine and coastal waters off the southern parts of the west coast of India under the influence of prevailing monsoon currents.