A new calanoid copepod, Scaphocalanus somaliensis from the western Arabian Sea (Copepoda: Scolecitrichidae)

Abstract. Scaphocalanus somaliensis sp. n. from the Somalia current is described. The new species is very similar to S. brevirostris Park, 1970, but clearly distinguished by the setation of the maxillule and some details of the 5th pair of legs (in the new species, inner seta of P5 twice as long as the segment itself and 1.8 times longer than terminal seta, inner seta with 18-23 setules; in S. brevirostris, 5 and 3 times longer respectively and inner seta with about 12 setules). The new species is also related to S. pseudobrevirostris Schulz, 1987, but can be easily distinguished from it by the large distal vesicle of spermatheca, 3 inner setae on the endopod of the 1st pair of swimming legs (2 in S. pseudobrevirostris), different relative length and setation of inner and apical setae of the 5th pair of legs, and by longer outer spine of Re 1P2.