MORPHOLOGY AND BIOMETRY IN 5 POPULATIONS OF ARTEMIA-FRANCISCANA (ANOSTRACA, ARTEMIIDAE)

The morphometric characteristics of two Artemia populations from Baja California, Mexico, were compared to those of three A. franciscana pop ulations from the Artemia Reference Center, Belgium, (San Francisco Ba y, U.S.A.), San Francisco Bay Brand, U.S.A., and Yavaros. Mexico. The general morphology was similar but we found significant differences in all biometric features analyzed; although, the Baja Californian popul ations belong to the same species. These populations have acquired som e features of their own, which probably are environment-dependent and genetically fixed. This might be sufficient to define them as microgeo graphic varieties of A. franciscana.