Deevey, 1974
Short description:
Chiridiella bichela is an aetideid calanoid copepod known after female (length 2.50-2.80 mm) and fifth copepodid stage of male. Species recorded in the Sargasso Sea and the north-western part of the Pacific Ocean, most probably bathy-abyssopelagic species.
Taxonomic description:
Female. Total length 2.50-2.80 mm. Cephalothorax 3.7-4.0 times longer than abdomen. Anterior border of lateral skeleton structures of genital field wavy. A1 23-segmented, reaching genital segment or Abd2. Ri A2 is two thirds of Re length; coxo- and basipodite with 1 seta each, external lobe of Ri2 A2 with 6, internal with 7 setae. Ri2 Md with 6 setae. Mx1 gnathobase with 10, second internal lobe rudimentary, third with 2, Ri with 4, Re with 8 setae, external lobe with 8 setae. First Mx2 endite with 3 setae, second with short seta, third and fourth endites both with one long and one short spine, on both endites arranged like pincers, fifth with long curved spine; distal part of Ri with only 2 (or 3 Markhaseva, 1996) setae present. Mxp protopodite with groups of 1, 2 and 1 setae, Ri1 Mxp with 3 medial setae. Re P1 with 2 external spines. External lobe of Ri P1 reduced. P2 with incompletely 3-segmented Re and one-segmented Ri, P3-P4 with one-segmented Ri and incompletely 3-segmented Re. On P4 coxopodite hairs and seta absent.
Male known after fifth copepodid stage only.
Vertical distribution:
In hauls between 2300-3400 m of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench region (Markhaseva, 1996). In haul 1500-2000 m of the Sargasso Sea (Deevey, 1974). Most possibly bathy- abyssopelagic species.
Geographical distribution:
Atlantic Ocean: the Sargasso Sea (Deevey, 1974). Pacific Ocean: recorded in the region of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench (Markhaseva, 1996)
Type locality: 32°10'N 64°30'W (Deevey, 1974).
Material examined:
2 females from samples: 67, 82. See examined samples module.