Updated checklist of the free-living marine Copepoda (Crustacea) of México

Abstract

THE MARINE COPEPOD FAUNA OF THE MEXICAN SEAS HAS BEEN STUDIED FOR DECADES. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER SPECIES OCCURRING IN THESE WATERS HAS NOT BEEN ESTIMATED, THE ONLY FAUNISTIC CHECKLIST BEING FROM RESTRICTED AREAS. IN THIS PAPER, WE PRESENT AN UPDATED AND REVISED CHECKLIST OF THE MARINE COPEPODS RECORDED IN MEXICAN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF PACIFIC AND THE ATLANTIC. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES (479) REPRESENT MAINLY COLLECTIONS FROM THE WATER COLUMN ENVIRONMENTS, WITH THE PALAGIC GROUP CALANOIDA BEING THE MOST DIVERSE. KNOWLEDGE OF THE VERY DIVERSE MEIOBENTHIC COPEPODS BELONGING TO THE HARPACTICOIDA IS STILL LIMITED IN MEXICO, AND SHOULD BE IMPROVED. A LIST OF REFERENCES ON THE TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEXICAN MARINE CEPEPODS IS ALSO PRESENTED HERE.