Eudiaptomus hadzici (Brehm) (Crustacea: Copepoda) from the Dinarid Karstic Area

During biological research in 1995/96 of Lake Visovac in karstic Dinarid area, a large number of calanoid and cyclopoid copepods were obtained from plankton. Among these materials, the uncommon high mountain species Eudiaptomus hadzici (Brehm, 1939) was recognized. The discovery of this species in a karstic Mediterranean lake at an altitude of 32 m is noteworthy and of some ecological value. It has never before been collected in Dinarid area, having been recorded only in high mountain glacial lakes in the south of the Balkan peninsula (Macedonia and Albania) and in periodical karstic lakes in the montane region (Slovenia). The distribution of this species is still little known and it is most probable that its geographical range could be enlarged by further investigations. In this work a short morphological description of the species found in Dinarid karst is given and also some notes on its ecology.