Two new species of Monstrilla (Copepoda : Monstrilloida) from Brazil

Several specimens of monstrilloid copepods were collected in different loca lities of Brazil between 1993 and 1997. The taxonomic analysis of these spe cimens yielded the identification of two new species of Monstrilla. The fir st one, M. careli sp. nov. can be distinguished by a combination of several characters, including its body proportions, with a very long cephalothorax , by the particularly long terminal segment of the antennules, by the struc ture of its fifth legs, and by the very long dorsal seta on the caudal rami . The second species, M. brasiliensis sp. nov, can be distinguished by the peculiar features of its fifth leg, with a patch of long and stout hair-lik e setae along its outer margin; it has also a notched protuberance near the antennule bases. It has a notch on the anterior protuberance of the genita l somite, and a ventrally swollen cephalothorax. This species, together wit h M. inserta Scott bears a pair of enigmatic structures which are either mo dified sensillae or a vestigial postantennular appendage not previously des cribed in the Monstrilloida.