Acartiidae Sars G.O, 1903

Copepods of the family Acartiidae are representatives of Calanoida. Common and abundant in marine  zooplankton  worldwide,  the  86  recognized  species  of Acartiidae  are  grouped  into  5 genera. They occur in neritic waters covering a wide latitudinal range. Adult body lengths range between 600 μm and 2700 μm, a size that is effectively captured by meso-zooplankton nets of 200 μm mesh size. Juveniles and nauplii, however, are smaller; they can only be quantitatively captured by  using  narrower  mesh  sizes.  Adults  show  sexual  dimorphism  recognizable  only  after the first instars of the copepodite stage.