Calanoida
Guides
Epischura
Epischura is a genus of freshwater calanoid copepods in the family Temoridae. The genus contains approximately 11 recognized species, including the well-studied Epischura lacustris of North American lakes and the endemic Epischura baikalensis of Lake Baikal. Species within this genus exhibit diverse feeding strategies ranging from omnivory to predation, with documented consumption of both phytoplankton and zooplankton prey. The genus has been proposed as paraphyletic with respect to Heterocope, with suggestions to transfer the Siberian species E. baikalensis and E. chankensis to the resurrected genus Epischurella.
Epischura lacustris
Epischura lacustris is a predatory calanoid copepod in the family Temoridae. It inhabits freshwater lakes across northeastern North America, including all five Great Lakes. The species exhibits size-selective predation on small zooplankton, particularly Bosmina longirostris, and has been observed to consume both phytoplankton and animal prey. It can be distinguished from other Great Lakes calanoids by three stout caudal setae on each caudal ramus and a noticeably bent urosome in mature specimens.