MORPHOLOGY AND SETTLEMENT OF THE FIRST CO PEPODITE STAGE OF SCOTTOMIZON-GIBBERUM (COPEPODA, SIPHONOSTOMATOIDA, ASTEROCHERIDEA), THE SYMBIONT OF THE STARFISH ASTERIAS-RUBENS (ECHINODERMATA, ASTEROIDEA) IN THE WHITE SEA

Larvae of the first copepodite stage of S. gibberum Scott, 1894 found in the White Sea on starfish A. rubens L. (40 specimens) or reared fro m eggs under laboratory conditions (5 specimens) are described. The du ration of the embryonic development is 6 to 7 days., the duration of e ntire naupliar development is 8 to 9 days at 10-12 degrees C. The cope podites have a lot of peculiarities which are present in copepodites o f many other species of Copepoda and mouthparts similar to these of ad ults. Behavior of the first copepodites under laboratory conditions an d the examination of specimens washed from starfishes showed, that set tlement takes place at the first copepodite stage.