Morphology of the mandibular gnathobases of the copepods Calanus australis and Calanoides carinatus: Evidence of omnivory

D'AGOSTINO, VALERIA C.; HOFFMEYER, MÓNICA S.; DEGRATI, MARIANA

ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2020 vol. 286 p. 64 - 71

0044-5231

In spite of the worldwide ecological relevance of Calanus australis and Calanoides carinatus, little is known on the morphology of their mandibular gnathobase edges (MGEs). Thus, in order to further learn about the relationship between MGEs and diet, adults and copepodites of C. australis and C. carinatus collected from northern Patagonian coasts, Argentina, were morphologically analyzed using confocal transmission laser scanning microscope and scanning electron microscope. In C. australis males as well as in C. australis and C. carinatus females, MGEs were found to end in one dorsal seta and they have one ventral tooth, four central teeth and three dorsal teeth. In contrast, in C. carinatus males, MGEs were observed to be rudimentary and with no dorsal seta, and contrary to published data they have three structures of which were cone-shaped, short and small whereas the remaining three or four were long and pointed. The main differences between MGEs from copepodites and adults of C. australis and C. carinatus females lied in the number of cuspids observed on the different teeth and the presence of a short inner lateral peak found only in C. australis ventral tooth. Our study, lead us to classify both copepods: C. australis and C. carinatus as omnivores.