REDESCRIPTION OF ASTEROCHERES-SIMULANS (C OPEPODA, SIPHONOSTOMATOIDA,ASTEROCHERIDAE) - A SYMBIONT OF SUBERITES-DOMUNCULA-FICUS (SPONGIA) FROM THE WHITE SEA - COMMENTS OF THE TAXONOMY AND ECOLOGY

The cyclopiform copepod Asterocheres simulans (Th. Scott, 1898) (Sipho nostomatoida, Asterocheridae) described from the North Sea was found a ssociated with the sponge Suberites domuncula ficus (Johnston, 1842) ( Demospongiae, Tetractinomorpha, Hadromerida, Suberitidae) in Kandalaks ha Bay in the White Sea. The Species differs from its congeners in the dorso-ventral flattening of the prosome and the marked swelling of th e urosomal segments; the caudal ramus is broader then long, ratio 3 : 4. The antennule of the female consists of 21 segments, that of the ma le, 18 segments. The ninth antennulary segment carries 6 setae. Maxill ae with a tubular extension near the base of xyncoxa, the extension co nnects with a canal of body. Sexual dimorphism was recognized in the a ntennule and all thoracic appendages. A collection from a single spong e (dimensions 5 by 8 cm) resulted in 3004 copepodids of all stages. La boratory observations, taxonomical and ecologycal comments were made o n these copepods.