Copulatory behaviour and sexual morphology of three Fabaeformiscandona Krstić, 1972 (Candoninae, Ostracoda, Crustacea) species from Japan, including descriptions of two new species

Two new species of Fabaeformiscandona and collections of Fabaeformiscandona japonica (Okubo, 1990. Bulletin Biogeography Society of Japan 45: 39–50) from Japan have provided an opportunity to study the copulatory behaviour and sexual morphology of these species. The male uses the large fifth limb palps to force open the female carapace for copulation. However, the female has an enlarged overlapping flap over the posterior of the carapace which appears to hinder the male from opening the carapace, thus the female retains some control over potential mates. During copulation, the males’ fifth limbs, caudal ramus and m process of the hemipenes and the females’ protrusion of the female reproductive organ play a crucial role in providing a secure interface between the sexual organs to allow for the transfer of the giant spermatozoa. Development of the sexual organs in both sexes begins during the A-2 instar, and the protrusion of the female genital lobe begins to form during the A-1 instar.