Image Key > Copepoda > Calanoida > Sulcanus conflictus
Sulcanus conflictus
Nicholls 1945
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropoda |
| Subphylum |
Crustacea |
| Class |
Maxillopoda |
| Subclass |
Copepoda |
| Order |
Calanoida |
| Family |
Sulcanidae |
| Genus |
Sulcanus |
Size
Distinguishing characteristics
- Slender elongated body.
- Conspicuous features are: a brush of very long setae on the 2nd maxilla that extend forward almost to the tip of the head.
- Very long 1st antennae that extend just beyond the tip of the caudal furcae.
- Prominent eye spot.
Distribution
- True estuarine species.
- Also found in inshore coastal waters.
- Recorded from Tasmania (Nyan Taw and Ritz 1978), Victoria (Newton 1994), New South Wales (Jarvis 1979) as well as Western Australia and Queensland.
Ecology
- Usually found in much lower densities than Gladioferans pectinatus, which is not surprising since it is carnivorous and is known to prey on the former species.
- Can tolerate a wide range of salinity (almost fresh to full strength seawater), and temperature (~9–26°C) (Newton 1994).
- Unlike Gladioferans pectinatus, it seems to be absent from estuaries during extended periods of freshwater flood.
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