Contribution to the knowledge of the Harpacticoida (Crustacea, Copepoda) from the Sardinian coast, Italy.

Contribution to the knowledge of meiobenthic Copepoda (Crustacea) from the Sardinian coast, Italy. Data available on the Italian species of Copepoda Canuelloida Khodami, Vaun MacArthur, Blanco–Bercial and Martínez Arbizu, 2017 and Harpacticoida Sars, 1903 report overall 210 species, but their diversity and biogeography are still poorly investigated. We carried out a faunistic survey along the eastern coast of Sardinia (Ogliastra region) in order to document these taxa in the area. A total of 41 species in 36 genera and 18 families were found. Although many species were identified as putative, the current Italian checklist was updated with 12 new records of genera and 4 of species. Longipedia coronata Claus, 1862 (Canuelloida), Diosaccus tenuicornis (Claus, 1863), Asellopsis hispida Brady and Robertson, 1873, Wellsopsyllus (intermediopsyllus) intermedius (Scott and Scott, 1895) (all Harpacticoida) are reported for the first time from Sardinia coasts. The copepod community was particularly rich at Ogliastra Island, a small rocky island with natural reefs, rocky shoals and Posidonia oceanica meadows. Species found there were mainly related to coarse sands and macrophytal detritus.