A revision of Leptopontia T Scott (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) with description of six new species

The presumed amphiatlantic distribution of Leptopontia curvicanda T. Scott, 1902 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) is reviewed and the species being redescribed on the basis of a single male from the Isle of Sylt. Examination of other material previously attributed to L. curvicanda, collected in South Carolina and a wide range of localities in northwestern Europe, resulted in the discovery of four new, morphologically similar species: L. dovpori sp. nov., L. flandrica sp. nov., L. punctata sp. nov. and L. americana sp. nov. In addition, two new species, L. mediterranea sp. nov. and L. breviarticulata sp. nov. are described from the Mediterranean and the Galapagos archipelago, respectively. L. curvicanda sensu Marinov (1971) and sensu Apostolov (1973) from the Black Sea and sensu Klie (1950) from Helgoland are regarded as species inquirendae. A revised diagnosis of the genus Leptopontia T. Scott is presented. (C) 1996 The Linnean Society of London