Moraria sphagnicola was for first time recorded in 2012 in a pond in Northern Norway situated 5 m a.s.l. It is questioned whether its occurrence is a result of a non-indigenous introduction.

Key characteristics

Moraria sphagnicola has a relatively slender body. The exopod in the first four legs has three segments, while the endopod is 2-segmented. In the first leg the endopod is as long or slightly shorter than the exopod. In the legs 2–4 the endopodes are considerably shorter than the exopodes. The fifth leg is large, with a rather short setae. Its rostrum is also large. The operculum is smooth and rounded while the caudal ramus is long and narrow, being more than twice as long as wide. The inner margin has two transverse rows in addition to a longitudinal row of small spines. The antennule consists of seven segments.

Female: Length 0.40 mm

Male: Length 0.32 mm

Ecology and distribution

Moraria sphagnicola was first time registered in 2012 in a pond in Nordland situated 5 m a.s.l. A few specimen was found and we cannot exclude this finding to be a result of non-indigenous introduction. The species has a Palearctic distribution, and as the latin name indicates, it is associated with Sphagnum.