BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2026, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 48-56

Intrapopulation Morphometric Variability of the Crustacean Artemia parthenogenetica Barigozzi, 1974 (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) of the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay of the Caspian Sea

© 2026 S. A. Bulatov^1,2

¹International Alliance for Integrated Research of Marine and Hypersaline Ecosystems Consortium, Klin, Russian Federation;
²International Institute for Modeling and Forecasting the Development of Marine and Hypersaline Ecosystems, Klin, Russian Federation

E-mail:

Four morphometric parameters (body length, cephalothorax length, abdominal length, and furcal setae number) were analyzed in adult specimens of the parthenogenetic population of the halophilic brine shrimp Artemia parthenogenetica, a polymorphic species collected from the waters of Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, Caspian Sea. Significant intrapopulation variability in furcal setae number and insignificant variability in body length, abdominal length, and cephalothorax length were observed. A strong negative correlation was found between salinity and furcal setae number. For the first time, salinity has been shown to influence the cephalothorax length in specimens of parthenogenetic population. It is suggested that this may be related to the hydrochemical composition of the bay's waters.

Key words: Caspian Sea, Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, brine shrimp, adult animals, morphometric traits, salinity, differences.