Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Copepoda
Order Harpacticoida
Family Laophontidae

Paralaophonte echinata Fiers, 1986

Paralaophonte echinata: after Fiers, 1986

Taxonomic Characterization: Paralaophonte echinata is characterized by a long furcal rami, the exopodite of the fifth leg is round, the shape of the endopodal segments, the male has a strongly dimorphic third leg, and the female has a six-segmented antennule.

Dispostion of Specimens: University of Amsterdam, catalog numbers WIAE 25a, 25b, 26.

Ecological Classification: Stygobitic

Size: Adult female holotype length is 0.52 mm and adult male length 0.42 mm; both measured from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior margin of the furcal rami.

Number of Species in Genus: Numerous

Genus Range within the West Indies:

Species Range: Known only from Dixon Hill Lighthouse Cave, San Salvador Island, Bahamas and Tortuga Island, Venezuela.

Closest Related Species: Paralaophonte problematica and possibly to Paralaophonte gracilipes.

Habitat: Anchialine limestone cave

Ecology: Fully marine salinity waters. Benthic. Found in loamy substrate and a coarse sandy substrate 50 cm above the waterline.

Life History: Only 2 females and 1 male have been identified.

Conservation Status: Restricted to the lower West Indies

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