How to recognize an Acartia female:
Using a binocular :
Top of the head quite flat or slightly triangular.
Prosome with a typical slender shape and 4 visible thoracic segments.
A1 longer than the prosome but shorter than the boby, with many quite long and spaced setae.
Urosome 3-segmented.
Furca rather short, approximativelly as long as one urosome segment.
Furcal setae rather robust with a typical fan shape
Tiny P5.
Using a microscope :
No rostrum.
P5 uniramous, 3-segmented, with the last segment modified into a spine.
How to differenciate A. negligens from other Acartia
Using a binocular :
Corners of the last thoracic segment with one small spine (rarely more).
Using a microscope :
First two urosome segments with a dorsal row of tiny spinules on the posterior border.
Third segment of P5 forming a short, straight, spine with serrated outer edges.
Second segment of P5 longer than wide and bearing a very long setae
(X5 longer than the spine).
Ecological Notes :