ON POTENTIALS AND RELEVANCE OF THE USE OF COPULATORY STRUCTURES IN ANOSTRACAN TAXONOMY

This paper reviews and extends the knowledge of anostracan penile morp hology and its taxonomic significance. Since Linder's pioneering class ification (based partly on male genital characters), the morphology of both basal and distal penile parts has been applied repeatedly to reo rganize or establish higher anostracan taxa, or to extend their diagno ses. In general, the configuration of both basal and distal penile str uctures follows a constant pattern in well-defined genera. Size and sh ape of processes and spinulation on the basal tin Linderiella and Chir ocephalidae) and the distal parts (in Parartemia), however, may show i nter-specific differences. Variability in penile structures in the cur rent genus Brachinella indicates the need for a taxonomic revision of this genus. Similar intra-generic penis morphology may contribute to h ybridizability of congeners and validate Dubois' genus concept for use in anostracans.