First record and redescription of Pontella princeps Dana, 1849 (Copepoda: Pontellidae) in the Red Sea with notes on its feeding habits

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Marine Science Department, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

During a regular plankton sampling programme around Sharm El-Sheikh area, a copepod Pontella
princeps Dana, 1849 (Calanoida: Pontellidae) was reported for the first time in the Red Sea water. Both
sexes were collected and fully redescribed. The zoogeographical distribution of the species confirms
that it is of Indo-Pacific origin. Gut contents analysis revealed that this species is a carnivore that feeds
on a variety of planktonic copepods.

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