black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Colpocyclops longispinosus (Monchenko, 1977)
Synonyms: Halicyclops longispinosus Monchenko.
Common names: None.
Order CYCLOPOIDA
Family CYCLOPIDAE
Taxonomic description. By the structure and armature of its mouth parts, this
species is among the most modified of the Cyclopidae. Female length 700-730 um,
male 510-530 um.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: EN (Ukrainian sector)
Distribution. The lower part of the Dniester river liman and central part of the
Dnieper-Boug river liman. Endemic to these two river limans. Genus allied to the
Ponto-Caspian genus Smirnoviella. This generic relation, range and halopathy
provide a reason to consider it a member of the Ponto-Caspian zoogeographic
complex and which arose in one of the basins that preceded the Black Sea.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. A bottom-dweller, inhabiting
sands and mud-sands at different depths of oligohaline and meiomesohaline
aestuarine water-bodies. Found at a salinity of 1.8-5.6 ppt.
Biology. Polycyclic development during the warm season of the year. The prehensile
mouth parts structure suggests predation on small invertebrates.
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