Zoological Studies

Poecilostomatoid Copepods Associated with Bivalves in Korea and their Distribution

Il-Hoi Kim (2004) Research carried out during the past decade on copepods associated with Korean bivalves recognized 27 species of copepods from 40 species of bivalves. These copepods consist of 14 species of the Lichomolgidae, 5 species of the Myicolidae, 4 species of the Clausidiidae, 3 species of the Anthessiidae and a single species of the Mytilicolidae. Four of these copepod species have a very broad range of hosts: Conchyliurus quintus Tanaka infects 12 species of bivalves; Modiolicola bifidus Tanaka and Pseudomyicola spinosus Raffaele & Monticelli each infects 11 species; and Ostrincola koe Tanaka infects 10 species. Conchyliurus quintus and M. bifidus inhabit all seas around southern Korea. In contrast, O. koe occurs mainly in the Yellow Sea, while P. spinosus lives in the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan. Interestingly, although O. koe and P. spinosus infect several species of bivalves, they do not share the same host species, with the exception of a single species of bivalve Mactra veneriformis which acts as a host for both species.