A new species of Moraria (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Canthocamptidae) from groundwaters of Germany, including a key for the identification of the species of the Western Palaearctic Region

A new species of Moraria collected from interstitial waters of southern Germany is described. The new species Moraria glitzae n. sp. can be differentiated from other members of the genus by a combination of morphological traits related to the shape of the anal operculum, the armature of leg 4 and the ornamentation of the urosome in both sexes. Males of M. glitzae n. sp. have a typical number of armature elements on the endopods of legs 2 to 4, some of which with unique morphology. Females can be distinguished from those of other species of the genus by the number of antennular segments, the number of setae on the exopod of the antenna and the mandibular palp, the armature of legs 1, 3 and 4, and the size and armature of leg 5. The relationship of the new species to closely related species, viz., M. catalana, M. jana, M. stankovitchi and M. varica is discussed. The morphological differences to other species inhabiting groundwaters and epigean habitats of the region, viz., M. alpina, M. brevipes, M. fontinalis, M. mrazeki mrazeki, M. mrazeki macedonica, M. pectinata, M. poppei and M. radovnae are presented. A distribution map of the Moraria species known from Germany and a dichotomous identification key of the 20 species from the Western Palaearctic Region are provided.