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Copepoda

Common names: copepods, harpacticoids

Probability of encounter: high if appropriate extraction techniques used

Quarantine importance: some species are intermediate hosts of parasites of people, livestock and wildlife.

Similarity to mites: small size and obscurity.  Abdomen is distinctly segmented.

Morphology

Normal adult length: < 2 mm
Body tagmata: head (2 pairs of antennae), thorax, abdomen
Eyes: median eye spot
Antennae: biramous
Mouthparts: mandibles without palps; two pairs of maxillae
Legs: swimming
Respiration: cutaneous
Gonopore: first abdominal segment
Distinguishing features: Minute swimming crustaceans with well developed antennules and a pair of cerci-like caudal rami.

Comments: Copepods are normally considered aquatic organisms and would be expected primarily in wet intercepts (e.g. bromeliads); however, some harpacticoids are inhabitants of humus.

Diversity: >7,500 species, mostly marine.

References

Tree of Life - http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Copepoda&contgroup=Crustacea