Vervoort, 1949
Short Description:
Euchirella messinensis indica is an aetideid calanoid copepod known after both sexes (female 3.85-5.30 mm and male 4.00-4.20 mm) from tropical parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans from mainly mesopelagic waters.
Taxonomic Description:
Female. (Description after Bradford and Jillett (1980)). Total length 3.85-5.30 mm. In shape of the body species is similar to E. messinensis messinensis. Differs in the shape of genital segment, that in spite of being asymmetrical, shows smaller projection in left posterior part of the segment than in E. messinensis messinensis (dorsal view). All other features in structure of body and limbs close to that in E. m. messinensis.
Male. Total length 4.00-4.20 mm. Cephalon with low crest. Body structure close to E. m. messinensis. Left Re P5 exceeding the first projection on Ri P5 right.
Vertical distribution:
Recorded mostly in total hauls, rarely from mesopelagic.
Geographical distribution:
Probably distributed in tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans (Vervoort, 1949; Tanaka and Omori, 1969a; Von Vaupel Klein, 1984), recorded off New Zealand (Bradford and Jillett, 1980).
Type locality: 4°21'N 120°01'E (Vervoort, 1949).
Material examined:
9 females and 1 male from samples: 49, 395, 406. See examined samples module.